John Ray Week 16 - Remembering This Past Year
We’ve made it. The end of the school year. There are a little less than two weeks left in the school year. It is crazy to me that the school year is ending, Winter Break felt like it was only a month ago.
From the beginning of the school year to now I have made a ton of memories, good and bad. I still vividly remember the first day of school, how it was really hot, and how weird it felt to be an upperclassmen. I remember the first few assignments for this class, the poem and the getting to you know flipgrid. I remember thinking “this is not so bad, maybe this class is not as hard as people make it out to be,” (boy was I wrong).
I also made a lot more memories this year than previous years. I remember going back to Bakersfield after years, and remembering all the things little three year old me used to do. I remember my trip to Washington over spring break, marking the first time I traveled outside of California in over ten years. I remember the first thing I noticed was that all the cars had, obviously, Washington license plates. I remember driving along the freeway and noticing that there are so many more trees in Washington compared to Fremont.
This reflection has made me realize how valuable remembering is. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to go back and remember all of these memories. With the school year coming to a close, the ability to remember has allowed me to cherish all the memories I have made over the years.
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| View from The Space Needle taken from my trip |
John Ray, I remember the first day I arrived in class and I asked you for binder paper. I too, was naive and thought the class wouldn't be too bad. Then the first essay. Then the second. Then the third. Then they slowly stacked on top of each other and I remember fearing the class. But as the year went on, I started to prepare better and I knew that the intense workload would pay off once the AP exam came around. And I was right. I felt so prepared for the exam and I'm now super confident in my score. While this year was filled with hardships and a lot of obstacles, I'm glad I'm still here to talk about it. I can say I survived APENG. Junior year is definitely one that fits the stereotypes we hear about beforehand. It was expected, yet took me by surprise. But still, this year built many core memories that I'll remember for years to come.
ReplyDeleteIt’s very fun reading everyone reminiscing over the year as we march closer to its end. I see many people talking about how they dealt with the challenges they faced in this class, and in the year overall. I like how you mention the little things, like seeing more trees in Washington than in California. It’s these details that act as the fabric of our memories, representing who we are as people. Memory, to me, is such a funny thing. Sometimes, I find myself happy, remembering the good times with all of my friends. I more often find myself sad and nostalgic, still remembering the good times, but conceding the fact that I might never experience that again. That’s why I strive to make the most ouf of high school. I romanticize the simple act of hanging out, as it creates unforgettable memories that I will for sure cherish decades down the lane. I’ve had fun reading your blogs this year, John.
ReplyDeleteHi John Ray. I relate to your feelings of how everything seems to have happened in times two speed. This entire year has felt especially fast. This was seen with how fast your AP tests came. When signing up for APs at the beginning of the year I remember thinking "I have so much time to study, I'll start studying next month." As the months passed, my time began filling up with homework assignments, essays, projects, presentations, POAS, and there was no room in my brain to even think about my AP tests. After AP session the thought of how fast this year passed was brought to me. I love how you choose to value memories rather than thinking about how fleeting everything is. You choose to think about them as a wonderful time in your life, rather than desiring to relive that moment. Throughout this year I loved how conversational your blogs have been. One that still calls out to me is when you used the word "Rizz" to open the conversation to how language is fluid. Thank you for writing this year.
ReplyDeleteHey John Ray, first off, I would like to say thank you for the blogs that you have written this quarter. You have a writing style that is reminiscent of the flashbacks in movies that the main character cuts to when they think about an easier or better time in their lives. I know that's oddly specific, but that's what is feels like every time I read your blog. I agree that time seems to have passed by so fast. I remember just getting the assignment for POAS just a little while ago, and I vividly remember being determined to complete that assignment over winter break, even though that did not end up being the case for me. I appreciate how you've recalled some of the earlier assignments that we had in this class like the flipgrid, because that demonstrates how deeply you truly are thinking about this whole change and how quickly we've progressed through the school year. And you know, I think you're right about making so many more memories this year than previous years. I'm curious to know more about the memories that you have made, even though we won't have another opportunity to blog about it. But I agree with you. Thank you for the blogs this year, John, and I wish you the best in the future. It's been real.
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