R2. What I Love Writing about...

Overall, I enjoy writing about pretty much anything.  I don't seem to have difficulty getting my thoughts across when I am writing about them.  However, there are a few things that I find easier to write about because I enjoy the process more.  I definitely enjoy writing more opinionated pieces than pieces just telling the reader straight facts.  I like to find out more about an issue and then give my say.  I feel as though it’s a good way to convey ideas logically while still sounding knowledgeable.  While I do love the actual writing of the piece, my favorite part of the process behind these articles is doing the research.  I have found that I am able to learn a lot about things that I am truly interested in, which makes the writing that much more easy.  I love interviewing others to find out more about their ideas as well.  It gives even more insight into the issue.  My favorite topic to do this with would have to be current events or stories that are in the news often.  I find something so interesting about breaking news stories and how journalists have to produce a near-perfect piece for a newspaper within a day or less.  I find it amazing that they are able to do this.  I have also found that I enjoy writing fictional work as well, through the picture blogs that we had to do earlier in the year.  It's very different from most of the writing we do in school, and a nice change of pace.  I think that's why I like it so much; it's a refreshing break from all of the analytical writing we do as students.  I don't really have a favorite thing I like to write about when doing this, and usually it's just whatever comes to mind at that time.  I like being able to blend fiction with reality, which I would like to experiment more with in the future.

R1. The Best Part about the End of the Year...

My favorite part of the end of the year is being able to relax a bit more than I could at the beginning of the year.  Everything is a little bit more laid back and low-key, which I look forward to from the beginning of the year.  Everyone has gotten to know the people they've have had classes with over the course of the past few months, and it has become an even more enjoyable experience.  Usually, the work load of the classes always slows down as well.  The weather also becomes a lot warmer outside, and I feel that this makes everyone feel a lot less claustrophobic.  I like being able to go outside during class and sitting in the sun.  Physical Education class is even better now, too, because we can go outside and play sports.   The weather makes me feel a bit more relaxed because I love the sun.  I am more likely to go outside to run after school because of the warm temperature, which helps me relieve a lot more of my stress.  The overall attitude of everyone within the school seems to change as well.  I feel like everyone is happier and more excited.    All of the A.P. exams are over, which makes me a lot less stressed out as well.  I have a lot more time to do things that I enjoy, instead of spending that time looking over notes and studying.  Most of all, the end of the school year brings me the hope and energy to keep me going for the remaining days we have left.  It's so close to being over, and it motivates me to keep trying my best.  Pretty soon, we'll all be able to go to the beach for a day or hang out with friends as much as we want, which is one of the best things to look forward to.   

Q5. Prom 2012!

This year's prom was so much fun!  I had a great time spending time with my friends during the night.  It was really fun to get ready, getting my hair and nails done during the day, and then having my friends do the same.  After my friends and I got ready, we met at my house around five for light refreshments and pictures before the limo came.  There were ten of us altogether, including Cindy, Tara, Emily June, Julie, Sarah, Mitchell, Kahla, Matt, Dan, and myself.  It was really hectic, but it kicked off the night on a great note.  The limo arrived at about six to take us to Salvatore's.  The limo was so much fun!  We got some great pictures and listened to great music as it drove us there.  At the prom, we were able to take even more pictures.  The photo booth that was set up was super fun, and my friends and I took a lot of pictures in there.  The table where I sat for dinner had most of the same people as the limo, but Will, Miranda, and Tanja sat there as well.  The food was okay, but the ice cream they served afterwards was great.  I liked being able to watch them make it right in front of me.  The dance portion of the night was a little disappointing, but it was still fun.  They weren't playing the best music to dance to, and I know it detracted from a lot of people's impression of the night.  Overall, though, prom was enjoyable.  After it ended, we all got back in the limo and drove around for a little while, eventually ending up at Niagara Falls.  It was fun just to walk around the park and see the sights.  The falls at night are so pretty and well worth the trip.  It was a wonderful conclusion to a great night. 

Q4.Cultural Icons

In the dictionary, an icon is "a picture image, or other representation that has a greater meaning."  I think that this is only one side of what a cultural icon truly is.  A cultural icon is someone that is recognized as a symbol for something greater by a large majority of people.  They could be known for their good choices or their not so good choices.  I think that it all depends on what they surround themselves with.  I, myself, do not have one cultural icon.  Sure, there are certain aspects of people that I admire, but I don't really follow them specifically.  For example, I admire the singer Lana Del Rey for all of her hard work and singing ability.  She has worked her way up to the top all by herself, starting her career in little cafes and clubs around New York City.  Now, she has made it big, scoring gigs on Saturday Night Live.  She has a real name for herself, and one to be proud of by living life according to her standards.  I also appreciate her being from New York State.  While I admire her for this, I don't share a lot of the same goals or objectives as her, making it hard for me to relate.  I guess that's what my problem is a lot of times when people ask me this question; how am I supposed to relate to a person and look up to them if they have such a different life than me?  I guess it's a good thing for many young kids and teens to have a role model or several role models that fit the bill and are good influences for them to look up to.  I just have never been able to find that one icon that I can say that about. 

Q3. The Best Book I Ever Read for School

I normally like all of the books we read for classes in school, but there have been a few that are truly memorable that I consider some of my favorites of all time.  One of my favorites has to have been The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.  Actually, no; I’m just kidding about that.  It would have been pretty surprising, though.  My real favorite book has to be The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  It’s such a wonderful novel, and I think that everyone should read it at some point.  It has sparked a love of all of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s work, which I will continue to read more of in the future.  I could read his literature over and over again without getting sick of it.  It promotes so much discussion and debate, and I love how he has so many deep ties to the characters in his work, modeling them after different aspects of his own life.  The plot of his novels and the detail he puts into them makes them one of a kind. 

In The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway, who just moved to Long Island (West Egg to be exact), meets his next door neighbor, Jay Gatsby, who, coincidentally, has been in love with Nick’s cousin, Daisy Buchanan, for years.  He is a completely different person now, and really wants to see her again.  She lives in East Egg, but he is afraid to go see her because she is married.  Nick helps set them up, which is where the problems begin.  Daisy is such a confusing, flawed character, which is amplified by Gatsby’s elusiveness.  Nobody knows who Gatsby really is, which tends to cause a lot of people to suspect him of some shady business.  Nick is the one to finally put the mystery together and find out who he truly is.  Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy and his past ultimately cause his demise toward the end of the novel, which has a profound effect on those around him. 

It may end tragically, but it is definitely one of the best pieces of literature I have ever read.  It is definitely worth reading!

Q2. Summer Plans!

This summer I am going to be incredibly busy, but I am still looking forward to it.  Graduation is June twenty-third, and I am really starting to get excited about that.  I will be kicking off my summer in Washington D.C. in the first few days after my graduation for George Washington University’s freshman orientation program.  I’ll get to meet my roommate, talk to my professors, and experience what life will be like next year.  Then, later in the summer, I will go back there for a day to register for all of my classes and address any issues that I may have before classes begin in the Fall.  I am so excited!  Besides all of the college stuff, I will be working a lot.  I’ll be lifeguarding at the Kiddie Pool and teaching lessons for the Recreation Department here, which I did last year as well.  Overall, it’s a pretty fun job, but I might try to find another place to lifeguard as well so that I can get more hours.  I’ll be working a lot, but I still want to make sure that I’ll have some time to spend with my friends.  I’m excited to go to a lot of their graduation parties and just spend some time with them before I go away.  It will definitely be sad to say good-bye once the end of August rolls around.  Lastly, this summer I will be going on vacation to the Dominican Republic!  Instead of a graduation party, my parents and I decided that it would be more fun and worthwhile to take a family vacation at the end of July.  Even my brother, Will is excited, and he is never excited for anything we do.  It will definitely be a fun time.  I really can’t wait for the summer to come, even though it’s only about one month away!

P4. A Chat with Laura S.

I have had the pleasure of sitting next to Laura Slojkowski my entire career here at The Bulldog.  We have a lot of fun sitting next to each other, while still managing to be productive most of the time.  We're good at giving each other ideas to write about as well as giving good feedback on some of our pieces.  I am also Laura's editor here at The Bulldog, and her articles are always exceptionally written even before they are given to me to edit.  She also always double-spaces her articles, which makes it a lot easier for me to review.  Over the school year, I have learned many interesting things about Laura while sitting next to her.  Her favorite color is red, and she loves the beach.  Crystal Beach is one of her favorite places on Earth, and she always wants to go back there.  She likes to play soccer and likes to watch hockey and Bisons games.  Her favorite hockey team is the Chicago Blackhawks, and her favorite player is Jonathan Toews.  She loves The Wanted, a band from Great Britain that recently came to the United States, and owns a tee-shirt from them that took a month to ship all the way from England.  She listens to a lot of music when writing her articles, and her favorite bands are The Tragically Hip, Oasis, Third Eye Blind, and The Pressure.  Her favorite TV show is "Man vs. Food."  She works at Adam's Nursery on Genesee Street, which sounds like a pretty fun job seeing as though she gets to be outside most of the time.  She works as a cashier and plant waterer.  I think I'll probably go visit her on Saturday before I have to go to work!  That should be fun, although I really don't have any reason to buy any plants, bird baths, or garden decorations.  Overall, sitting next to Laura in Online Publishing for the past eight months has been a really fun experience.