#engl121

i'm currently reading northanger abbey by val mcdermid for my english exam, and it’s fine it’s just not as good as i was hoping. you can really tell when adults try to write as teenagers - the voice is never quite authentic. it’s quite jarring to read this version of na as mcdermid jumps between complex language and OMG totes amazing within a few sentences.

I read the Converse Chuck Taylors: A Personal Artifact piece on Em-Journal 1.2. This journal caught my attention more than any of the other journals because I am in fact a Converse lover as well. The most intriguing part of this journal was all of the stories of each pair that the author, Sarah Brethen, owned. She had four pairs and explained each pair of Converse with so much detail and imagery it felt like they were my own. I completely agree with her on how her shoes weren't just shoes but pieces of memories. This genre displays characteristics of a journal and reflects on tennis shoes as not only a material object but an object containing something much more special. These shoes were there for her when her friends weren't there and as she said, "...itching for another journey". All of these journeys taken in her sneakers allowed her to look back at each pair and remember exactly where she was and what she did. I think this is a wonderful and truthful journal about how someone can turn a so-called material object into an object with sentimental meaning. What may have kept my attention so well besides my love for Converse was the imagery and detail within her piece. She described every feel, smell and sight she encountered throughout her use of each pair without going overboard. I liked how she referred to the shoes as a "personal artifact". Everyone should have at least one object that reflects who they are as a person and things they have been through. These personal objects could help that person get through the day if it has been bad just like it got Sarah through some hard times in her life even if it just a little hard. 

The progress for my research proposal project has been going smooth over break. Not only did I do more interviews with the visitors of the Fenton Fire Hall but I actually went with some friends. When we all met up I had a notepad and wrote down some observations. Some of the observations I recorded matched the information in the interviews. Although I did come across a few observations that will fuel my research proposal even more. I'm so excited to continue finding even more out about this topic!

While I was on the Fifth Floor, I sat outside a classroom. There were two people sitting outside too. One was on their cellphone and the other was on her laptop eating an apple. I was quiet for the most part. There were three people that arrived to class late. Meanwhile someone was drying their hands in the bathroom down the hall while people entry were moving in and out of entry doors. There were papers rustling. There was puddles of water by the entry doors on the floor. A couple of girls were laughing and while they were a girl sneezed very loudly in a classroom somewhere on the floor. Things were getting quiet and boring so I left.

This website includes empowering and motivational photographs taken by photographer, Steve Rosenfield. Rosenfield came up with this ingenius project where he captures photos of all types of people with their insecurities written on themselves. Attached to each photograph is the persons story of why they were insecure and how they overcame it. I found his work really interesting and inspiring because of all the different categories he includes. If you check out the site you will see a long list of insecurities. Hundreds of people told their stories and a few or maybe more could be relatable. This project has strongly influenced many teens and people of older age groups to overcome their fears of not being accepted. Even people that don't think they have any insecurities should visit this site because maybe if they have bullied or made fun of someone because of their flaws the project will allow them to become more accepting. Cheers to 'building security with insecurities'!