Blogs were my favorite homework assignments this year out of any of my classes. Not because they took a fairly minimal amount of time, or because their deadlines were never severe, but because they allowed me to rediscover my love for writing. Don’t get me wrong, the fact that they were a pretty low-stakes assignment was definitely a perk, but at the same time I think that their relaxed nature was what let me really have fun with them. Although it was sometimes difficult for me to come up with blog ideas, once I landed on the right one, the words flowed so easily and I enjoyed letting my voice show through in my writing. These blogs provided a welcome respite from the academic nature of my writing pursuits from the last four years.
My favorite blog that I wrote this semester was “A Deep Dive Into My Family’s History.” I have always loved history, and looking into my family’s lineage made that interest personal. It was so moving to find the photograph of my great-grandmother and her family while they still lived in Russia/Poland and to think about how their lives were similar and different to mine today. I also enjoyed talking with my mom and aunt about this blog and hearing about stories their grandmother, my great-grandmother, told them as kids. The information in this blog was mostly centered around my mother’s family, though, so maybe I will look into my dad’s side at some point.
The sheer amount of choices we had for books for the Voices project was a little overwhelming. However, I remembered that I enjoyed reading Beloved last semester, so I picked Sula because it is written by the same author, in the same style, and in the same subject area. This isn’t to say, of course, that Beloved and Sula are the same book with different characters. There are lots of key differences between the two books, notably the amounts of magical realism and changes in time continuity (Beloved is set over a year or so, Sula is set over decades – an entire lifetime). I really liked this aspect of Sula; it always feels satisfying to see a character through to the end. Not only did I enjoy the story, but the message of the book was very powerful. Through the Voices project, I gained a deeper insight into the daily experiences of Black women and how literature has minimized those experiences over the years.
As I write the final blog of the year (truthfully, ever – sorry Mr. Stanicek), I am reminded more than ever that this is it. I’m writing this blog on the last Monday of high school, two days after prom, six days from graduation. Despite the amount of complaining I do about school, I have loved my time at NNHS. I can’t say I’ll miss rushing around the crowded hallways, but I will miss (some of) the people in them. It makes me sad to think that I’ve grown up with the people surrounding me, in some cases since kindergarten, and now we’re all going our separate ways. But while these last few days are bittersweet, I’m so looking forward to the future. I always thought I would end up at a college far away from home, and now that that’s actually true, I’m so excited to graduate and move on to bigger and better things. With summer first of course, a much needed break before the real work begins in college!
Hi Alyssa! I think that your blog “A Deep Dive Into My Family’s History” would have been interesting to read, but I don’t think that I read it. I know way too much about my family’s history, but I think it’s just because I like history in general and so does most of my family. As you wrote in your last paragraph, this last blog post will probably be my last as well. End of an era, I guess. It’s so crazy to me that there are only 5 days left until graduation. Anyways, I enjoyed reading your blog and good luck on the AP French exam tomorrow as well as any others you have left!
Alyssa,
I agree that blogs were definitely one of my favorite class assignments this school year. I really enjoyed having to set aside the time to simply sit down and write when everything else in life felt so chaotic and rushed. My time set aside for blogs actually became relaxing, because I knew that it was something I could use as an outlet for introspection and creativity. As you mentioned, I can relate to the fact that these blogs led me to rediscover my spark for writing. Your blog about your family’s history sounds really interesting – I never wrote a blog on that topic, but I think if I had, I would have enjoyed it. I’m curious about the results of yours! Sula was one of my top choices for the Voices project, and although I didn’t end up reading it, it’s definitely on my future reading list. I agree that Morrison’s voice is so unique and interesting, and definitely worth a read. I like how you ended your blog with a look back over the past four years, and a glance at what is ahead!
Hello Alyssa, I had very similar experiences to you in the sense that I found blogging to be very low-stakes and very enjoyable. I liked hearing about what your favorite blog post was as history is also my favorite subject and it is very fun to go back through time and get to be put in the shoes of those before us. The story that you told about your family history was very interesting and well written and to say that I am impressed is an understatement. The way that you gathered multiple sources and perspectives from different family members was very intriguing. Lastly, I totally agree with how you said that your time at Naperville North was frustrating at times but utimlety is will be sad leaving a school full of people that you and I have known for a very long time and made special memories with. Fantastic blog post Alyssa.