Propaganda, rumors, conspiracies, falsehoods, and hoaxes have been prevalent since the beginning of human language development. However, none compare to the modern-day “fake news” phenomenon. Fake news is disinformation spread from news sources and/or social media platforms under the guise of being authentic news. Thanks to the rise of technology, the world is running faster than ever before. We can no longer trust anything we hear, read, or watch on the internet. The current abundance of propaganda differs on a massive global scale from previous generations because of its accessibility and how rapidly it can be spread. Furthermore, the consequences of misinformation are even more deadly in the midst of a pandemic. This is particularly dangerous considering the majority of fake news is shared by older generations, who are more susceptible to dying from COVID19. Digital literacy and the rapid social changes are the main factors for older generations sharing misinformation.

Besides educational institutions striving to make digital illiteracy a high priority, there’s is little we can do about it because, at the end of the day, it is difficult for anyone to muster up the courage to admit they are wrong and/or have been led in the wrong direction by their preferred news source. Before anyone can take proactive steps to prevent the spread of fake news, everybody needs to be aware that is a grave issue that exists. We must advocate for everyone, not just older generations, to exercise caution and skepticism while using the internet. In order to prevent falsifications from entering your daily life you can do the following steps: think before you click, read the entire story (not just the headline, and keep up with new sources who do not necessarily share your values. With keeping these tips in mind, you will be on your way to avoiding being a victim to fake news. 

SPOILER ALERT: High school is nothing like the musical. There’s no spontaneous combustion of musical numbers in the cafeteria or romantic dance routines on the roof in the pouring rain. You want the truth? It’s essentially the building where innocence and self esteem comes to die. In fifty years, you won’t remember the Pythagorean theorem, you won’t remember the girls name you sat next to in class, your schedule, vocab terms, or what you wore. You’ll forget all the drama, all the breakups and makeups. You won’t remember your teachers names, except the ones who inspired and believed in you. Once you graduate, slowly but surely all your humiliations and ignominies will fade away. Fifty years from now, you’ll look back on the times you had and long to be back in high school. You will remember the times you let yourself have fun. You’ll remember the times when you broke the rules and laughed until it hurt. Don’t take life too seriously, no one makes it out alive anyways.

I enjoyed English II Honors with you this year! My favorite part was being able to pick the books within a stated genre to do a project over. I also found the frequent vocabulary quizzes to be helpful in my daily life. Oftentimes, I felt overwhelmed in the classroom setting because of the disruptive and riotous students in the third period. It was difficult to focus on my work in front of me with all the noise in the background. Replacing the traditional monotonous schedule with a block schedule can be a solution for relieving this issue. This way teachers can see fewer students during the day, giving them more time for individualized instruction. In addition, students have more time for reflection and less information to process over the course of a school day. Implementing block schedules at A&M Consolidated would not only reduce the spread of COVID-19 but also improve long term retention skills in students. 

Next year, I am taking English III AP: Language and Composition. I am looking forward to the rhetorical analysis essays. As Well as learning how phrases and clauses can modify and limit an argument. It is exciting that this course explores how counterargument or alternative perspectives can affect an argument. Moreover, I enjoy AP classes which are based upon humanities and self-expression. In regard to At Home Learning, I feel as if my classes could have been more challenging and engaging this year. My work required very little critical thinking skills and more busy work. I always did all my work on Sunday and it made me question the inner workings of the American school system. Afterwards, I would think to myself, “did I really just complete a week worth of work in five hours?” Overall, I want to say thank you for the work you do every day for us. I wish you a blessed and safe summer vacation.

The Marrow Thieves written by Cherie Dimaline takes place in an apocalyptic era where the non-idengionous population of North America has lost the ability to dream, resulting in catastrophic physiological repercussions. In this dystopian society, bone marrow is now believed to store dreams and serve as repositories for memories. Although the world is ravaged by the consequences of global warming, a greater threat lurks. In pursuit of regaining the ability to dream, the oppressive and dominating government have set out to hunt down the indigenous population of North America. Once captured, the victims are killed for bone marrow in militant confinement centers classified as “schools”. The novel follows a young man on his journey of survival. The Marrow Thieves is a coming of age novel about perseverance, hope, and survival. 

Perseverance is the antagonists, Frenchies, superpower. He manages to maintain a purpose in spite of extreme adversity. His purpose being safety and his adversity being constantly faced with danger. Frenchie’s willingness to trudge through harsh temperatures while fleeing an oppressive government led him to find happiness and a sense of belonging. Frenchie knew he could not afford to fall apart after witnessing the disturbing death of his loved ones. He did not have time to stop running and mourn if he wanted to survive the myriad of persistent flooding, natural disasters, and food shortages. Moreover, Frenchie’s ability to persist in light of darkness can be seen as inspiring to readers, even if the severity of the situation differs. In conclusion, The Marrow Thieves embodies the essence of what it means to persevere.

Serial, a startup investigative journalism podcast turned global obsession overnight, unfolds the tragic murder of Hae Min Lee and the unlawful incarceration of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed. Serial explores the ways in how the American justice failed Adnan. At age seventeen, Adnan Syed was pronounced guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Koenig highlights the events that took place in order for him to be where he is today. The jury claims they are not racist, however, it is clear to the listeners that discriminatory undertones are present. In episode 11, Adnan’s mother believes anti-muslim prejudice is at play. The justice department, not only in Baltimore, but also around the world, is socially structured with deep racialized power; that is, the people running the system tend to be white and those being subjected to the system tend to be disproportionately minorities. Nevertheless, the audience can be skeptical of bigotry when there is a myriad of other factors at play. Factors such as a resilient prosecution topped off with Christina Guittrez, Adnan’s criminal defense attorney with idiosyncratic tendencies. 

In the 1990s, Christina Guittirez had a stellar reputation for being ruthless in pursuit of justice for her clients. However, in her late-career she began to develop estranged behavior, solely focusing on the financial aspect of her work and frequently demanding large sums of cash from her clients upfront. Although Adnan has kept his respect for Guitterez to this day, I believe her deficiencies deprived Adnan of his right of counsel. For example, Guitterez failed to contact a key alibi witness, Asia McClain. She also failed to cross-examine the prosecution’s cell tower expert upon the reliability of location data for incoming calls. In court, Guiterrez’s weak and inconsistent theories about the timeframe and her lack of contact with Asia led to the fate of Adnan Syed. The sixth amendment does not provide the right to an exemplary lawyer, just any lawyer. However, it does provide the right to a defendant who at least takes the basic steps to investigate potential alibis. In conclusion, Mrs. Guitterez’s failure to investigate the case conscientiously resulted in Adnan’s desolate fate.

Serial is an investigative podcast hosted by Sarah Koenig in which explores the depths of Hae Min Lee’s murder. At the time of death, Hae was an eighteen-year-old student at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore, Maryland. Throughout the series, Koenig unfolds issues within the American justice system. The suspected culprit of Hae’s murder by strangulation is Hae’s ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed. Adnan’s story highlights the unjust prosecution of one man out of 20,000 in the United States alone who are falsely convicted. On February 25th, 2000, Adnan was found guilty of first-degree murder and given a life sentence, despite his pleas for innocence. So far, I am leaning towards believing Adnan is innocent since there is a myriad of ways in which the murder is not linked with Adnan Syed. For example, In episode five, Koenig expands on the problem with the use of phone records in court. In Adnan’s trial, the state used phone records when they work in convenience with the prosecution, but the calls that do not add up, are ignored. Koenig describes how law enforcement’s use of cell records are inaccurate and how the how the prosecution did not deploy the case fairly with regards to the jury.

At the end of episode 1, Sarah Koenig reveals to the audience that the case is still in process. The fact that the murder remains unsolved, engages the listeners. She carefully presents a multitude of information in a nonlinear manner over a long period of time and still manages to capture the attention of the audience. I have found listening to the podcast in class and taking notes relaxing in comparison to other academic activities. I find Sarah Koenig’s voice to be calming and the appendment of other witnesses’ voices (whether through call or interview) intriguing.

There are three branches of government, legislative, executive, and judicial. The judicial branch is made up of the supreme court and rules all matters related to the constitution. This branch possesses extensive power over the law and is continuing to grow since its conception in 1789. Supreme Court Justices are not elected like the other two branches, but they are appointed by the president. The justices are able to serve for life or until the senate impeaches them. The constitution, which delineates the framework for government, is vague in modern-day interpretation. Laws that were written two hundred and twenty-nine years ago for the betterment and safety of American citizens simply do not apply to the progressive era we live in today. There is no way to justify living constitutionalism without at least some consideration of consequences. For example, altering a dysfunctional prison system. 

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with over 2.3 million prisoners behind bars. Taxpayers pay over sixty-nine billion each year in order to maintain the prison system. How did the nation get to this point and how can we prevent the numbers from rising? We know the prison system needs radical reform but how can we accomplish that effectively? The act of reducing harsh prison systems begin by understanding the root causes. Currently, 47% of prisoners are incarcerated for drug-related offenses. By changing the dynamic around the drug sentencing policy surrounding the war on drugs, we can decriminalize certain drug policies.  Prioritizing rehabilitation of offenders, especially juvenile is pivotal in this crisis. As well as altering policies surrounding food stamps and voting rights for previous offenders to reduce likelihood of homelessness. By implementing small steps for prison reform, we as a nation can and will strive for a brighter future. A nation should not be judged on how it treats its highest citizens, but how they treat its lowest ones. 

Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” If I would die for a cause depends soley on your definition of a cause. If you mean a political war or an ideal, I would most likely answer no, I would not die for an irrational cause. The realistic truth is that in some cases, the most effective way of protest is death. However, in contrast to the previous statement, I would defend with my life for an innocent person under attack. Especially if it was my momma, my baby sister, or my aunt Meagan, the ones I cherish the most. I humbly admit, there are a select number of people I would jump in front of a nerf bullet for or possibly give a kidney to.

I am not necessarily scared of dying, it is the fear of never amounting to anything. I do not want to spend decades on this planet and not explore the diversity God created. The universe did not conspired me out of stardust to go about my life chasing material things. In the novel Little Women, written by Loius May Alcott, Amy March states “I want to be great or nothing”. This seven-word phrase has made me realize that I have so much to see and nothing to lose. From now on, I will be keeping an eye out for a cause that I will be able to make the ultimate sacrifice for. Maybe I will stumble upon it when I least expect it. As for now, a cause that I am willing to die for has not been discovered.

This semester has been a wild ride. Seriously. A full-on rollercoaster with no seatbelts that only goes up. The person in front of me throws up every time and the barf propels backward with absolutely no warning. My ears are hypnotized by the clicking of gears and school bells. I do not feel the animosity of the thrills like my classmates around me do. I no longer feel consumed by exhilaration as I feel the slingshot of velocity every drop. When the day becomes night, my body is still in motion and my brain never feels adjusted from the adrenaline flow. When I finally get home and am no longer blinded by the luminescent lights of school, I am confronted with a simple sacrifice. Every night the world gives me two options: I can either sacrifice my school work and focus on reflection, meditation, self-care, and my overall health or I can sacrifice my sleep and sanity to stay academically engaged. Just like a rollercoaster, my experience this year has had its highs and lows. The highs being hearing my friend’s laughter, being hugged by new people, tasting new foods, and being immersed in enthralling books. The lows being disappointing my parents for not exceeding their unrealistic expectations put on me from a young age.

 As for English class, I must say, I am truly stunned by the effort you take in grading. Never before have I had a teacher who grades with such precision. So thank you! You are making us into better writers and we are too prideful to even notice. I often struggle with diagramming sentences in bellwork. This is a method I have never seen before, while I have tried to research the process, I have found nothing of help. I enjoy all the hands-on projects you have implemented into the curriculum. Thank you for all you do and have a blessed holiday season.  🙂

Dear Santa Claus, 

I hope all is well with you in the North Pole. Back in the good old days, (2014) all I wanted for Christmas was a hamster. That was the year you gifted me with the next best thing; a ZhuZhu pet. Surely you know what a ZhuZhu pet is, you are Santa! If you forgot, I will give you a brief reminder. A ZhuZhu pet is a plush robotic hamster that comes with accessories for designing a customized hamster habitat. ZhuZhu pets have two play modes: “adventure mode,”  in which they respond to stimuli and explore their habitat and a“nurturing mode,” in which they purr and make whatever noise a hamster makes. However, in 2016 the brand faced an overwhelming amount of criticism for an abundance of a toxic metalloid called antimony in Mr. Squiggles. Thus lead the tragic manufacturing discontinuation. 

I am writing to you to update you on the status of PipSqueak, Num Nums, Mr. Squiggles, Caption Zhou and my personal favorite, Scoodles. Every night at exactly 4:18 a.m., I hear robotic hamsters squealing in my room. For years I have searched every corner and crevice far and wide with no luck. I am now convinced the ZhuZhu pets are hidden within my walls. This year for Christmas, I would appreciate it greatly if you were to send an exterminator elf to my house to get rid of these pesky pillagers. In fact, If I were you, I would send more than one elf. Considering an average female will give birth to twenty hamsters in a litter with a gestation period of three months, there is most likely a vast empire of hamsters within my walls as they have procreated. I am unable to sleep at night because the nightmares never end. This is a finale call for help before I LOSE MY MARBLES! 

Warmest Regards, 

Mary M.