Christophers Blog

TED Talk: Why Being Outdoors is Beneficial Reflection 1. What I knew (and didn't know about my topic when I started out).  I chose this topic because I felt like I knew a good amount on why being outdoors is beneficial to both adults and kids. I knew that being outdoors broadens someone's horizons on life. Whether this is in school or in everyday decisions, I knew that the outdoors can open up your mind to new thoughts and ideas. I also knew that the fresh air is good for someone's growth and development. although I did not how significant this effect of the outdoors is, I knew of its importance. I also knew about how someones physical health can greatly increase when outside. I did not know so much about the boosting mental health effects. To add on to this I also did not know that the outdoor can reduce inflammation. Scents from the outdoors can also improve someone's growth which I found very interesting. 2. Why I Selected This Topic.  I chose this top...

In A.S. King’s Please Ignore Vera Dietz, Vera isn't the regular girl at school, she has secrets that can clear the name of her deceased best friend, Charlie Kahn. Charlie Kahn and Vera Dietz hang out together, go to school on the bus together, and they even construct a tree house together. Although they are so close, the two are polar opposites. Vera is on top of her schoolwork while balancing a full time job while Charlie smokes cigarettes all day and really does not push himself academically. Their homelife is also different. Ken Dietz, Veras Dad, pushes Vera to be her best self although she might not always see that as the case. Charlie's Dad abuses his mom and seems to not really care about Charlie’s well being. Despite these circumstances, they are still great friends but this was soon to change. Charlie began to hang out with Jenny Flick, Bill Corso, and other members of the “detention heads”, as Vera calls them. Charlie steers away from Veras friendship and starts a life...

Jason Dessen is an average guy with a loving wife, Daniela, and a son, Charlie. Jason works as a professor at Lakemont college and Daniela is an artist but both of them set their big aspirations aside to raise a family. At the bar, Jason celebrates with his former college roommate, Ryan Holder on winning the Pavia Prize. On the walk home, Jason is kidnapped. The man directs Jason to go to a remote hangar where Jason is injected with a mysterious drug. Jason awakes in Velocity Laboratories where everyone not only knows Jason but praises him. When Jason is debriefed by a member of the lab, Amanda, he asks for a moment to himself and escapes through the bathroom window. Jason travels to his home in Logan Square and notices that his house is not his, everything is different. Jason travels to the hospital thinking he has a brain tumor but that is not the case. Jason says, “This is not my world” (104). Jason's kidnapper is another version of Jason from a different multiverse that seeked...

Do you like to read fantasy or science fiction? Why or why not?       I love to read fantasy and science fiction. These are arguably my top two favorite types of books to read. When I was a kid I loved to read science fiction novels and imagine what the setting would be like in real life. I also feel the same way about fantasy novels although I have not read a lot of them. I think fantasy novels can be made into a very cool concept but when I think of a fantasy I immediately think of fairy tales. Although I am not into fairy tales I am open to seeing what other fantasy novels have to offer. I like to read these novels because it can take you to a place that you did not know imagined. When reading these novels you enter into the world the author created and can imagine it as though it were real. I also find science fiction very interesting because it produces concepts that I find very cool. I am only 30 pages into Dark Matter but I can already tell that I will r...

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein follows a simple man, Denny Swift, who runs into conflict with his family, career, and his overall livelihood. Denny is a part-time race car driver and an employee at a local car service. Eve, his wife, is the love of his life, and together they have had one daughter, Zoe. The novel is told from the perspective of Denny's dog, Enzo. Enzo loves racing, playing with Zoe, and spending time with his family. As the novel progresses, Eve grows very weak but Enzo can't speak to tell Denny that. During Eve’s sickness, Denny is wrongly accused of a crime, revealing a risk to the custody of Zoe. Denny must persevere through the circumstances prevented and keep his dreams of being a professional racecar driver afloat. Denny's commitment to his family plays a major role in how the novel is viewed by the reader. When Denny’s family begins to grow he quit the original job that made him ten thousand dollars a month to work behind the counter...

Description: This is my infographic debate project on why technology gets in the way of learning. Technology does not need to be present in the classroom because it brings the rise of cheating and distractions while learning. No technology for the students is no problem. The studies I provide show the bad effects technology has in the classroom. Reflection: 1. One of the main reasons I chose this topic is because my partner Reed and I agreed on every topic except this one. I believe technology gets in the way of learning because of the higher use of cheating, distractions that come with technology, and the studies that show how technology is not effective. I personally believe in this topic to a certain extent. I am a user of technology in the classroom and see all the negative effects it has on my studies. So I think technology can be good if you use it correctly but the problem is most students dont. I do believe that technology increases students to get distracted, cheat more,...

Audio recording software >>  Everyone is different and I respect that but I want to have fun, not sit around inside. Today, video games are getting more and more popular. E-sport athletes are getting paid millions a year and earning more amounts of money than ever before seen. Don't get me wrong, I love X box and Fortnite and all that stuff, but I don't want that to shape who I am. I want to go outside, be adventurous, scalp some tickets for a last-minute Lions game, spend time with my friends and have fun. Being active is what keeps us alive not sitting on our couch and watching TV. To be honest, I did a good amount of "relaxation" this summer. I watched movies, played x box, and sat on the couch, but the best parts of my summer were hanging out with my friends and family by doing fun activities together. Doing activities and being spontaneous bring some of life's most precious moments. I spend most of my summers up at my cottage sailing, kayakin...

One of my favorite narrators within a novel is Cassie Sullivan in Rick Yancey's The 5th Wave.  Separated from her family, Cassie must find her way back to her family as the world is under attack from an alien invasion. The reader follows Cassie and her thoughts through a whirlwind of emotions and actions throughout the 5 waves of attacks. The novel also follows the perspective of Ben Parish, a young man fighting to survive and undergoing military training. I really enjoy the perspective of these two characters because the reader experiences the first person view through all of the action in the waves and the events leading up to the attack. The reader is in the middle of the action seeing everything through Cassies and Bens eyes. It gives us a view that some books do not offer especially within a thriller novel. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book and the narration made me feel like I was there. The first person narration made me enjoy this novel much more than I woul...

Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan follows Clay Jannon, a web designer looking for work in San Francisco, through a mystery of unexpected twists and turns. Clay recently has been let off from a techgig at a local bagel shop called New Bagel and is in need of work in a time where landing a job is unlikely. While walking down the street, Clay enters Mr. Penumbra's store where a “help wanted” sign is shown. The dusty, old fashioned, and bizarre bookstore captivates Clay’s eyes and Penumbra emerges from the shadows. Clay is given the night shift at the bookstore and his instructions are to give detailed descriptions of the customers who walk in. Clay meets Kat, a girl from Google who is interested in his 3D model of the store, something Clay just does to pass time. Through the uncanny store and exotic customers, Clay uncovers the Unbroken Spine, a secret society determined to uncracking a code for eternal life. Clay makes it his mission to crack the code, discover what...

READ MORE Why I took this approach:  For those who come across this blog and do not know who I am, hi my name is Christopher. I am a high school student attending U of D Jesuit and have been assigned to do a project. My task is to advertise a reason why young men (students) should read more and how reading improves their reading skills. When I heard this I decided to take the option of designing a poster. Not just one poster but 3 that would be hung around the school for students to see. I chose this because I felt like it was the best way to reach the student body and exhibit my creativity into why I think reading is a huge benefit to young men. My campaign is "Why YOU Should READ More!" My Project!:   1. On the first poster I will explain the format that the posters follow. On each poster there are 5 facts on why reading is beneficial to a student. Not only does every poster have this but each poster has a quote from a teacher or member of the faculty at U of...

To reach the student body of U of D Jesuit to encourage reading I have decided to do a poster campaign. I have chosen this for myself for multiple reasons. Projects are regularly assigned at U of D throughout many different classes,. Having said this, when a poster has been an option, I have taken that. I like to think I am a creative person and I believe a poster is the best way I can express my feelings on why students should read more.  This is a great way to reach the students of U of D because they walk these halls everyday. On the walls around the school posters are hung and students stop to read about a new meeting occurring, football game, or an upcoming spirit day. Similar to these, my posters will captivate the eyes of the students and explain why reading is beneficial and why they should read more. I plan on my posters to all have the same theme. Each poster will have a title of, "Why YOU should read more!" This phrase will be on top of every poster that is ma...

English has always been my favorite subject at U of D Jesuit and has challenged me to become a better writer throughout my years here. Whether I am writing a lab report in science or doing a DBQ essay for a government paper, my writing skills have developed from my english classes. Freshman year was probably my hardest and one of my least favorite years of english. Instead of writing essays and talking about literature, it was focused on nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Although this class developed my grammar, it was super boring. Next year I had english II which I enjoyed the most out of all the english classes. This is the year we made the transition from grammar to American literature. We also read arguably my favorite book ever, "The Great Gatbsy." Going into Junior year I liked English more than the other classes I was taking. English III was interesting but not my favorite, I can only take so much British Literature. I am excited for English IV and contemporary literature...