Motivation

My motivation for school is high because I want to succeed and get good grades so I can transfer to USC. I have always gotten average grades and want to improve for college. In order for me to get good grades I will have to do homework, study for tests and quizzes, take really good notes to study from, use my time wisely, and do not procrastinate. My friends are keeping my motivation high because they know how much I really want to attend USC and their film school. My motivation for this week was okay since I only had one major assignment to do which was my rough draft for my English class that was due on Monday. My friends really motivate me and I also motivate them to do well too. Some strategies I use are making summaries after assignments that I have read and make up questions if I do not get something, make to do lists so I will not forget to do a task, especially an important one, and go see my professors during their office hours if I have questions and just do my best overall. My time management has gotten better because I'm procrastinating less and less which is really good for me because I used to always do assignments last minute or event the day of because of how busy my schedule was in high school with being in so many performing arts and not really being dedicated to my academic classes.

April calendar/ to do list

To do list: 1) Revise Englsih draft. 2) Research dream job for coun. 151. 3)Write 10 pages more pages for script. 4) Catch up on shows.

Vocabulary 4/13

Emmity
Sentence from source: "The Elvenking was very powerful in those parts and the Master wished for no enmity with him, nor did he think much of old songs..." (The Hobbit)
Context Clue: I think this word means something that has to do with hate because the Master didn't want to be hated by the Elvenking.
Original Setence: The student gave his teacher an apple so she wouldn't feel enmity for him after he pranked her.

Crevice
Sentence from source: "It was not a cave and was open to the sky above; but at it's inner end a flat wall rose up that in the lower part, close to the ground, was as smooth and upright as masons' work, but without a joint or crevice to be seen." (The Hobbit)
Context Clue: I think this word means something forming an opening because the hints were wall, open to the sky above.
Original Sentence: The crevice on the wall had let in light from the outside from a damaged house.

Antiquated
Sentence fromt he source: "The dragon stopped short in his boasting. 'Your information is antiquated,' he snapped." (The Hobbit)
Conext Clue: I think this word means useless or old. A hint was information.
Original Sentence: Everyone stared at the antiquated car that was passing by them on the streets.

April

To do list: 1) Finish choreographing dance and chain flag solo 2) Learn at least one song on piano over spring break 3) catch up on sleep 4) write at least 40-60 pages for my script

Vocabulary

Taut
Context Clue: "The rope went taut, and Fili pulled in vain." I think this word means stiff.
Original Sentence: The White Witch had casted a spell which made the Narnians taut statues.

Lamenting
Context Clue: "They were still standing over him, cursing their ill luck, and Bombur's clumsiness, and lamenting the loss of the boat which made it impossible..." I think this word means regret.
Original Sentence: Edmund had lamented that he thought the White Witch was good instead of evil.

Splutter
Conext Clue: "He came up again spluttering and clinging to the wood like a rat, but for all his efforts, he could not scramble on top." I think this word means raging.
Original Sentence: The White Witch's army spluttered towards the Narnians as the battle begun.

Reflection Post

My plans for last week were to read at least a couple of chapters for The Hobbit. I also had to evaluate web sources for my English essay and find other sources that were credible so I can use them. I had to type my last outline for my screenwriting class. I planned to do reading homework and vocabulary flashcards. When I was reading The Hobbit, I took notes so I wouldn't forget what I read and circled words I didn't know so I could look them up later. I had read about three chapters. When I evaluated the web sources, I used the FC library tips about if websites were credible or not which really helped me. For the most part, I followed my plans about 90% because there were times when I would put off a small homework assignment or I would end up doing last minute. I didn't really have any tests coming up so I didn't really study for anything just small quizzes.

For next week I think I would at least finish my rough draft for English during spring break so I don't procrastinate and end up getting frustrated later on. I don't think I have any tests coming up except for small quizzes that will probably come up. I want to get at least 40-60 pages finished for my script by the end of spring break. I also plan to read another, maybe, three or four chapter for The Hobbit so I'm not behind in reading. Study for the vocabulary quiz.

Reflection Post

An event that happened that impacted my life was in my senior year. In high school, everyone would say that senior year is the best year out of all four years. Well, in my case it wasn't. I thought friends were suppose to be there for you know matter what not shun you from their life and their friends' lives. Senior year started to be fun the first couple of months but once the break-up of my ex and I everything had changed. Prom was coming up and I wasn't too excited to go because I wasn't really into dances. There was a guy that liked me and asked me but I had to say no because someone else already asked me. I did feel bad for him because he is a really sweet guy. One of my friends got furious and said that I couldn't hang out with her and her friends which most of them were my friends. I felt betrayed and alone for a little bit and I officially felt like I was in the TV show "Degrassi". One of my friends told me that I shouldn't be thinking about what happened in the past because it won't do any good in the future and she was right. But some of my friends were there with me to help me out. The whole prom experience was okay, I thought it would be much better but I least I won't regret when I'm older. I'm not a person who can hold a grudge because it starts to bother me but what I can say now is that I'm over what happened in the past and ready to live my life in the present and future.

Bewuthered
Conext Clue: "Bilbo rushed along the passage, very angry, and altogether bewildered and bewuthered- this was the most awkward Wednesday he ever remembered." I think it might mean confused or strange.
Original Sentence: The students looked at their final exam with bewuthered faces.

Flummoxed
Contect Clue: "... thought Mr. Baggins, who was feeling positively flummoxed and was beginning to wonder whether a most wretched adventure had notcome right into his house." I think this word means happy or spontaneous.
Original Sentence: She was flummoxed after she found out about winning a contest.

Depredation
Context Clue: "... and talked about mines and gold and troubles with the goblins and the depredations of dragons,  and lots of other things he did not understand, and did not want to, for they sounded , much too adventorous." I think this word means group, attack.
Original Sentence: The depredations of the sharks were coming close to the beach.

Calendar for March

To do list: 1) Pick up sister 2) Play piano 3) Go to the Jr. High colorguard/band show 4) Take nap

Reflection Post for "Life's Backpack"

In my life's backpack I carry: family, friends, goals, determination, and dreams. Everything in my backpack helps me focus on what I need to do to be successful in life and as a student. Sometimes, it hinders me to not be successful because I could lose motivation to reach my goals that lead to my dreams. My goals are to get my AA degree in Film then transfer to Cal State Fullerton and graduate with a Bachelor's degree. Once I turn twenty-one then I want to apply to AFI (American Film Institute). In order to get to where I want to be, I have to be successful in all my classes in college. Sometimes the stuff in my life's backpack helps but also hinders me because I don't have a lot of support and encouragement to get to where I need to be. Its hard to get support because my family and friends know how competitve it is to get into the film/tv industry because she many people from around the world have to same dreams and goals as me. Some people think that I shouldn't even bother but I know I'll make it even if I'm not famous, I just want to make movies.
Sometimes I would carry the past. I'm over with what happened, but for some reason it keeps coming back to me like karma.This doensn't help me because it makes me get into this headspace I can never get out of which makes me not focus on my classes and goals. It stresses me out but someone had told me to stop thinking about the past and just keep moving foward.

Foliage
"In the color of foliage; the shape of leaves, the fragrence of flowers..." The Importance of the Act of Reading, p.31
Context clue: hint. The author mentions nature and mentioned leaves. the shape of leaves
Definition: the leave sof the plant, collectively.
Original sentence: In Autumn, the foliage fall from the tree to the ground.

Emanating
"Then, what I like to call a gentle or well-behaved nostalgia from the earth, the trees, the house, carefully enveloped me..." The Importance of the Act of Reading, p.33
Context clue: examples. He must mean that when he was remembering his past it flowed through his mind.  The earth, the trees, the house.
Definition: to flow out.
Original sentence: The river emanated throught the peaceful countryside.

Entreaty
"The same was the family cats rubbed themselves against our legs, their mewing of entreaty or anger..." The Importance of the Act of Reading, p.31
Context clue: Cats would plea for attention. hint = anger.
Definition: Earnest request or petition, plea
Original Sentence: College students tried to entreaty for classes but did not succeed.