My Favorite Book

The Importance of Being Earnest is my favorite book I read in AP English 12 this year.  The comical and absurd assertions put forth from ridiculous members of Victorian society and the light message Wilde depicts make The Importance of Being Earnest "'wicked and...really good'" (Wilde, 24).  Reading the short and famous play made me realize "'for the first time in my life the vital importance of'" being well-read and cultured about different aspects of history, such as the Victorian Era (Wilde, 54).  I also enjoyed this play because I loved hearing my classmates read the lines of some of the absurd characters.  Ms. Serensky's choices for who to read which part seem very humorous and some-what accurate.  In fact, she told us, "'My professor in college picked me to read the part of Lady Bracknell.'"  When the play got going, I was so curious to know what would happen next.  "'The suspense [was] terrible'" but I really did "'hope it [would] last'" (Wilde, 52).  Overall, I am glad I had the chance to read Wilde's famous and comical play, The Importance of Being Earnest.

Top Ten Most Thrilling Academic Moments of My High School Career

1. I entered high school, freshmen year, thinking, "Now that I'm in high school, I am smart."  The first day, although I felt extremely nervous, was quite thrilling as well.  I thought I was smarter than I had ever been, but"'What could have put such an idea into [my]...little head?'" (Wilde, 38). I am not sure, because when I remember the classes I took my first year of high school, I laugh at their simplicity and long to be back in Honors English 9 or World History.
2. Honors Chemistry, my sophomore year of high school, was not my favorite class.  However, when the end of the year came around, I loved doing 'unknowns,' a lab everyday where Mrs. Salyers gave us an unknown substance and we had to perform tests in order to figure out which chemical it was.  I felt like a real scientist and felt "'more pleased with [myself] than I've seen'" (Kesey, 158).  
3. A big moment in my high school career was learning how to study.  My sisters have told me that you think you know how in high school, but learn how in college, and again, that you don't really learn how until grad school.  So, although I will probably become a much better studier in college, I remember how bad I used to be at taking tests in middle school, and how much better I am at test taking in high school.  When I could study and prepare well for tests, I told myself, "'I ain't no little kid'" and gladly moved on in my high school experience (Kesey, 172).  
4. In physics, at the end of my junior year, we built toothpick bridges.  I slathered a bunch of toothpicks with glue and crossed my fingers the day that Mr. Roberts would place weights of the bridges.  But Mr. Roberts placed more and more weights on my bridge, and I though, "'I am quite ready for more'" (Wilde, 31).  It wasn't the strongest bridge, but I accomplished something I had never done before. 
5. Another thrilling moment in my high school experience was when I decided to drop band and take Arabic.  Although it was a difficult decision, I am extremely glad I did it because Arabic is one of my favorite subjects and it helped me realize my interest in international studies.  I realized, "'I am, God help me, in a state resembling happiness'" (Currie, 196).
6. Sophomore year, I signed up for Creative Writing.  I couldn't wait for this class, as I signed up with friends and thought it would look great on my high school transcript. But the first day, I walked in Mr. Stuart's room, and learned that the class consisted of 5 or 6 sophomore girls, and the rest senior, AP English guys.  What made this worse was when Mr. Stuart told us we would have to read everything we wrote out loud to the class.  Having my friends around seemed "friendly and comforting," but the smart, older guys made reading my stories out loud practically impossible (Currie, 46).  However, I found this class a thrilling moment of my high school career due to my ability to overcome a fear, and it's great preparation for AP English 11
7. In Mr. Sweeney's honors algebra 2 class my sophomore year, he placed a sticker on A tests, and when you got a sticker, you put it on the sticker chart in the back of the room.  The stickers helped you obtain extra credit on the final exam, so whenever I received I sticker, it was quite thrilling to walk to the back of his room and place it on the chart.  I felt like getting stickers on math tests was the "'the visible personification of absolute perfection,'' until I got to AP English (Wilde, 31).
8. A thrilling academic school year was taking photography class.  Although I'm not exactly artistic, my experience in that class was fun and exciting.  Learning how to work in the dark room and print pictures was a great stress relief from my other classes.  When I first walked through the mysterious door to the dark room, "'I notice[d] all the machinery...is quiet, like it's still waiting'" (Kesey, 149).  But once I got the hang of things, I realized the thrill of taking a completely different class than all my others.  
9. Another thrilling experience of my high school career was when I realized I could understand and speak Spanish.  The first couple years of the language were slightly unproductive, but the last couple of years, I realized I actually do know Spanish!  The first time I watched a movie and understood what was going on, I felt like I had "never experienced a moment quite like it" (Currie, 285).
10. Last, but not least, I found it quite thrilling when I passed the AP English 11 exam.  I doubted myself so much but actually passing was a confidence boost for AP English 12.  After passing, I feel like, "'Anything, anything, anything is possible'" (Currie, 302).

"Chester:" My New, Simple Life

"Chester," by John Koethe, is my favorite poem of the year.  Koethe's illustration of a simple life through the repetitive mention of a cat makes me realize that "'I been away [from a simple life] a long time'" (Kesey, 325).  I was so caught up with my school work, extracurricular activities, work, and friends that my life was more than complicated.  Koethe's poem was one of the first we read, and although I understood the message he condoned, I didn't do anything about it until much later in the year.  Once everything had buried me in a pile of stress, I felt as if I was "'Not one of those whose sole aim [was] enjoyment'" (Wilde, 23).  After I remembered "Chester" and decided to apply the simplistic life to my own, "'I [felt] a strange and massive sense of relief'" (Currie, 169).  Without worrying so much about all the stresses in my life, I maintained my grades and worked the same amount of hours, spent enough time with my friends and still had time for myself and my new, simple, uncomplicated lifestyle.

    

My Favorite Day

As I walked through the door into AP English 12, I met my group members at the front of the room.  It was the day we had to teach our poem to the class.  Slightly nervous due to our limited time to prepare before class, we began the lesson and before I knew it, the class was almost over.  We passed out cards with fictional couples to each student in preparation for speed-dating.  "There is screaming," as people could not contain their excitement for the game (Currie, 302).  "Everyone was even more surprised" to learn how our game related to the old poem we picked to teach (Kesey, 252).  Everyone had a great time, and as they played their parts as a variety of romantic couples from movies and literature, they made sure not to reveal their "'wonderful secrets of [their lives]'" (Wilde, 22).  However, the game and the class eventually came to an end.  The day became my favorite due to the amazing way it all came together and the fact that my group won the prize for best presentation.

 

Switching Places

Merriman: Hello, my name is Merriman and I am pleased to meet you.

Billy: H-h-h-hi, my n-name is Billy Bibbit. D-d-do you come h-h-here often?

Merriman: No, this is my first time. I am trying to get away, you see, I am a butler at the Manor House, Jack Worthington’s estate.  I am just so tired of being bossed around there, even if it is my job.

Billy: W-w-w-wow, what is it l-like to live in a m-m-mansion?  At l-l-least you don’t live in an asylum, l-l-like me.

Merriman: ‘“Yes, sir,’” but I would enjoy having friends around to talk to like a normal guy once in a while (Wilde, 30).

Billy: ‘“You think I wuh-wuh-wuh-want to stay [there]?’”  The awful Nurse Ratched and my mother control me, what I would give to get out of that place (Kesey, 195).

Merriman: I’m gonna get real weird with it and suggest we switch places, Mr. Bibbit. ‘“The dog-cart is waiting [outside]’” and you can ride it to the Manor! I’ll spend some time at the asylum (Wilde, 32).

Billy: ‘“What do you m-m-mean?’” (Kesey, 264).  D-d-do you think this w-w-would work?

Merriman: Surely! We look quite similar and both seem to need a break from our controlling family members and bosses.  We can meet back here in a week, sooner if necessary.

Billy: Well, I w-w-would like t-t-t-to get away from the w-w-ward, my m-mother, and the t-t-terrible Nurse Ratched.  L-l-let’s do it.  

Merriman: Wonderful.  I will see you in a week! Farewell, Mr. Bibbit.

Billy: G-g-good bye Merriman.

Billy (left) and Merriman look just alike!

Fire Drill

As I look around the room, I make sure I feel comfortable and "'adjusted to my surroundings'" (28).  Before in-class writings, I always come to class a few minutes early and prepare for the task.  I slowly and carefully write a heading at the top of my fresh, clean piece of notebook paper, Nurse Ratched, Ms. Serensky... and then I pull out three new pens to place neatly on top of my desk.  As my class mates start to enter and nervous chatter fills my ears, I block out the voices and mentally prepare.  Soon enough, I am swiftly writing about our recent book, Othello, confident that my paper is intelligent and to the point.  But then, the loud screeching fire alarm goes off! No way am I leaving my essay! No way! But sure enough, we have to go outside.  "'I'm afraid'" that Ms. Serensky will not give us more time (27).  Of course, I don't need extra time, but it sure would be nice.  After we stand outside, the seconds ticking away, we are finally allowed to enter the school.  A classmate, Katie, tells me "I'll meet you up there!" and starts to run.  My whole class seems to be running, and I think they cannot get more time than me! "'You can't run around here,'" I shout as loud as I can (96).  Everyone freezes, distracted enough for me to sprint as fast as I can to the class room.  And, of course, even though this is the worst day in AP English 12, I get the highest grade in the class.

 

A Letter to Ruby

Dear Ruby,

          My name is Hannah.   I am a high school student, but I can pretty much guarantee that your IQ surpasses mine immensely.   Last year, I enrolled in AP English 11, an advanced, college-level English class offered at my school.  Known to be incredibly difficult with a huge amount of work, intricate discussions and complex essays, I felt proud to be a student in one of the hardest classes at my school.

However, as you grow up, I to notice your increasing vast amount of knowledge (You do have the “fourth-smartest person in the history of the world” as your father after all (264)).  Although at first I felt less of myself when you talk about things such as “‘the provision for oil drilling in next year’s budget resolution’” at the age of ten, your passion for the environment greatly impresses me (295).  Before you talk with an important, high-ranking government official, you tell your dad, “‘The flying made me nervous.  But I’m okay now’” (294).  Your ability to speak so passionately about what you care about in front of an intimidating official without feeling nervous encourages me to speak about my passions with more confidence.  Unfortunately in AP English 11 with its difficult discussions, I often failed to speak about my thoughts in front of my classmates, but hopefully you have inspired me to care less about what others are thinking and more about what I feel passion for.   When you have the opportunity to talk with newspapers and news stations about your passion, you say, “‘I want to do it…people are finally ready to listen’” (296).  Your eager and enthusiastic attitude toward the oil issue also inspires me to teach those who are willing to listen about my own passions and to speak up more in AP English.  Ruby, thank you so much, for your fervent, adoring and intelligent personality have taught me to speak out for what I believe in.

Thanks again,

Hannah Zaim