Monday,October12

Thehandsofthepeoplestandingoutsidethegatewerefrozenintofists.Breathswere
crystallizedinthebriskair.Thedarknessofthemorningwasinterruptedbystreaksofpinklight
risingfromthesun,replacingthedisappearingmoon.Thiswasthedaythattherageofinjustice
wasgoingtomakeadifference.Thiswasthedaythatthedustthatlinedthefloorsofsomany
houseswastobeawaken.Thiswasthedaythecalmreflectionofwillowtreesinthepondwere
tobeturnedintoripples,ripplesthatwouldexpand,expandintodeterminationandintegrity
somethingthathadbeenlostlongago.Thefauxcomfortabilitywouldbebroken,crackeddown
themiddle,shatteredliketheicicleshangingfromthebuildingwiththesharpedgesandthe
sharppeople.Onemoreminuteuntiltheclockstrucksix.Onemoreminute.Whateverlove
remainedfledthecity,replacedbyfury.Ticktock.Ticktock.Ticktock.
Go.

Monday,October19
Foranequationtobeafunction,itmusthavecontinuity.Idontconsidermyselftohave
continuity.Alinethatwouldrepresentmylifewouldhavejumpsandandparaboliccurves,lines
thatgotoinfinity,andlinesthatremainhorizontal.Thecomplexityofeachpersoncannotbe
representedbyrestrictedlines.Eachpersonhasmultiplefunctions,multipledimensionsthat
requirethexaxis,yaxis,zaxis,andmore.Somefunctionsmayhavedomainsthatgoto
infinity,andsomethathaveasetrange.Somepeoplemayhaveholesintheirfunctions,but
manytimesotherlinescomeinandfillthoseholesin,makingthefunctioncontinuousagain.
Peoplecannotbedefinedbyjustonepointorjustonefunction.
Infinityistooopportunisticfor
restrictions.

Monday,October26
MyfavoritequotationiswrittenbyDavidFosterWallace,andgoeslikesoHowoddI
canhaveallthisinsidemeandtoyouit'sjustwords.ThefirsttimeIsawthisquotation,it
sparkedaninterestinme.Often,whenIamsittinginaroomofpeople,orwhensomeoneis
complainingtomeabouthardshipstheyendure,Itrytobecomethem.Itrytoassumetherole
theydointheworldandthinklikethem,despiteeveryhumansinabilitytofullyunderstandor
viewtheworldfromsomeoneelsespointofview.
Everyonehasmultitudesofknowledgeand
thoughtandtheorycirculatinginsidetheirownunprecedentedmindthatnotoneotherperson
willeverunderstandthecomplexityof.
Ibelievethatsoneofthemostuniqueaspectsofour
relationshipswithotherpeople.Itswhatinspiresfriendshipsandtheoriesandknowledgeand
everythingthatmakesthisplanetwhatithasbecome.Attemptingtounderstandtheswirling
thoughtscontainedbetweeneachpersonstemplesiswhatdevelopsempathyforothers,
becausesometimeswordsarenotabletocapturethemultitudeofmeaningcontainedin
compiledletters.

Monday,November2
Whyareyouhere
Andnotsomewhereelse?
Whyareyourfeet
Rootedtothesefloors?
Vinesandstems
Connectingtheballsofyourfeet
Tothethickconcrete
Tokeepyoustanding
Keepyougoing
Keepyoualive.
Butwhatifthatconcrete
Thatalltoofamiliarconcrete
Weretofallaway?
Wouldyouembracetheabsence
Ofthesturdyfloor?
Wouldyouexplorethesurroundings
Youveneverseenbefore?
Wouldyoutakethefall
Andmakeityours?
Orwouldyoufall
Andletgravitytakeitstoll
Andhopethatwhatyourefallingtowards
Ismoreconcrete
Toreroot
Yoursoles.

Monday,November9
Isatinasmallhospitalroom,myentirefamilysurroundingme.Myauntwashomefrom
Colorado,myunclefromPennsylvania,mycousinfromCalifornia.Weweregatheredarounda
hospitalbed,allheretowitnesstheendofalifesoimportanttoallofus.Mygrandmotherhad
beenhookeduptolifesupportforthepastweek,lettingamachinefillherlungswithoxygen.
Ourheartsbeattotherhythmofthemachine,insyncwiththesoundofherwaninglife.
Everyonesatinsilence,awaitingtheinevitable.Iheardmygrandfathersobbingnexttohis
spouse.Iheardhimsay,Itsokaytoletgo.Iwasntsureifhewasreassuringmygrandmother
orhimself.Herbreathingstartedtobecomeinconsistent,liketherewasntenoughairwithinthe
tubestoinflateherlungs,topumpherblood,tokeepheralive.Hersevendaughtersandsons
surroundedthebed,waitingandwatching.Isatinachairontheoutskirtsoftheroom,
surroundedbyfamily.Wewereallwaitingandwatching.AndthenIdidnthearbreathing
anymore.Iheardsilence.Andcrying.Cryingforalifethathadbeensoimperativeinallofour
lives,slowlymeltingawayintoamemory.Everyonealwaystalksabouthowsaditistoseeyour
grandfathercrying,yourfathercrying,yourmothercrying.Theynevertalkabouthowseeing
youryoungersisterandcousingraspingeachothersobbingcanshatteryourhearttopieces.

Youassumetheydontunderstand,buttheydo.Theyunderstandasmuchasanyoneelse.This
isthekindofhurtthatmakesyoufeeltheholesinyourchest,thespacesinyourheart.Thisis
thekindofhurtthatmakesyoufeelhuman.

Monday,November16
Ialwayshadastrictadherencetothebeliefthatapersoncannotexistiftheydidntchangethe
world.Ialwaysthoughtthattheonlypeoplethatmatteredweretheoneswhomadegreat
discoveries,theoneswhopreachedaboutsavingtheearth,theoneswhoshapedoursociety
withtheirintelligenceanddiligence:butafterreadingandanalyzingeachofthesestories,my
opinionhaschanged.Idontagreewiththethemeof
TheMetamorphosis,
whichstatesthata
personcangothroughlifebypurelyexisting.Thatdoesntofferfulfillment,andseemslikemore
ofanexcusethanalifestyle.
TheNonexistentKnightw
asthestorythatledmetoaltermy
thinking.Thistexthelpedmetorealizethatexistenceisnotcharacterizedbythegreatactions
onetakesitischaracterizedbytheimpactyouleaveonothers.Apersoncouldbeknownas
themostpoliticallyinfluentialsubjecttoexistonearth,buthasthatpersonfulfilledtheirpurpose
iftheyfailtofightfortheirpeople?Apersoncouldbeknownasthesmartestindividualin
existence,buthasthatpersonfulfilledtheirpurposeiftheydonotusetheirknowledgetohelp
peopleinneed?
Lifeisnotaboutcreatingfootprintsontheearthitsaboutleavinghandprints
ontheheartsofothers.

Monday,November23
DearJandyNelson,
Iveneverreadastoryasbrightas
IllGiveYouTheSun.
Thestorycomesoffthepage,the
charactersdancearoundthemindofreaders,thepaintingsswirlandcomealive.Butthemost
interestingaspectofthebooktomeistheideaofwobblypeoplepoles.Thatapersonismade
upofalotofpeople,andthateachofthesepeoplestandonthelastpersonsshoulders.That
weaccumulatethesepeoplefromeachofourexperiences,andeventuallyhaveamultitudeof
peoplewithinourselves.Ibelievethateveryonehasacertainpersonality,butnooneisjustone
person.Peoplearecomposedofalotofpeopleandalotoftraitsandalotoffeelings.
Sometimesyoumeettheirritatedpersoninapeoplepole,ormaybethemelancholyperson,or
thereallycheerfulone.Allthesepeoplearewhatmakeeachhumancomplexinterestingand
themselves
.Ithelpedmetobemoreempathetictothosesurroundingme.Ithelpedmeto
realizethatweareallwobblypeoplepoles.Andweallhaveourpeople.Andthatswhatmakes
ushuman.

Monday,November30
Scenesofviolenceinliteratureorfilmareessentialintheplotofastory.Thesesceneselicit
strongemotionsfromtheaudiencesthatmayswaybiasorconfirmspeculations.Thesefeelings
mayincludehurt,sadness,anger,orhopelessness.Themostimportantaspectofviolent
scenesistheempathythatiscreatestowardthecharactersinastory.Audiencesfeelabondto
charactersthatareimportanttotheplot.Whenamaincharacterfallsvictimtoviolence,it
generatesafeelingofempathytowardsthecharacterandhurtasaresultoftherelationship
betweentheaudiencememberandcharacter.

Monday,December22
Ateddybearinonehand,
Akeyintheother,
Thedoorlaidahead
Inaworldofanother.
Hermeagerfeetpadded
Aboutthewoodenblock,
Broughttotheopening
Ofaheftylock.
Theanimalwashugged
Tothechestofthegirl,
Herotherhandsweating
Withtheweightoftheworld.
Thekeywaslifted,
Insertedinthelock,
Turnedtotheleft,
Instillingaknock.
Thedoorcreakedopen,
Andsuckedinside
Wasthelittlegirl,
Leavinginnocencebehind.

Monday,January4
DearMr.Kingsnorth,
Iappreciateyoutakingthetimetowritetoreadersaboutyourexperiencewithwritingandtips
forthemtoenhancetheirownexperience.Inyouressay,youtalkalotaboutbeinghappywith
writing,despitethesuccessawritermayobtain.Howcanonebehappywiththeirwritingif
othersdontseemtoappreciatethesame?Itissuchariskycallingtoanswer.AlthoughIam
sureitcanberewarding,isitworthallthepainandstruggleandisolationawritersooften
encounters?Isitworthpenetratingyourheartandmindcountlesshoursperday,onlytogather
afewsatisfactorysentences?Isitworththedisappointmentandselfdoubt?Iwouldloveforitto
beworthit,tobeabletodefyeverythingimaginableandcreatemasterpieceswithwords.The
fearoffailureisveryintimidatinginafutureinwriting.Howdoesoneovercomethisfearandbe
satisfiedwiththeuncertaintyoftheircreations?

Monday,January25
Ibelievethatpeoplemisimagineothersdaily.Itissoeasytotakethesimpleroute,toforman
opinionbasedonsomeonesappearanceortheirsurfacepersonality.Younevercorrectly
imaginesomeoneuntilyoubecomeclosetothem,andrealizewhotheytrulyare.Sometimes
thatsagoodthing,andthatpersonthatwasalwaysjust
there
isacomplexandinteresting
individual.Sometimesitsabadthing.Sometimesthepeoplewemisimaginedontliveuptothe
expectationswesetforthem.Andalthoughthatpersonisstillacomplexandinterestingperson,
theywerenotascomplexandinterestingasyouhopedtheymightbe.

Monday,February1
Soitgoes.Soitgoesthatunwantedthingsoccur.
Soitgoesthatpeopleweaveintoandoutof
yourlifelikeyarnonaneedle,carvingintoandoutofyourskin,fillingholesandmakingthem.
Soitgoesthataneventdoesntgoasplanned,orarelationshipdoesntplayoutasyouhoped.
Nothingisstoppingthesesoitgoeseventsfromhappening.Theyarestonesonyourpaththat
youmuststepontocontinueyourjourney.Theyaremistakes,regrets,achievements,and
faults.Soitgoes.

Monday,February8
Mybesthasalwaysbeenmyhappinessandempathyforothers.Wheneverencounteringanew
person,Itrytokeepanopenmindandawelcomesmile.Thisphilosophyhasallowedmeto
makefriendsIneverthoughtIwould,bringouttheunreservedsideofaquietperson,andlearn
wonderfulthingsaboutwonderfulpeople.WheneverIacthappytowardssomeone,theperson
reflectsmyhappiness.Icanfeeltheairsurroundingusbecomelighter,liftfromourshoulders
andriseaway,leavingnewer,fresherair.
Airthatelicitslaughterfromtonguesandsmilesfrom
lips.

Monday,March7
Maintainingapeacefulnationisanearlyimpossiblegoal.Therewillalwaysbepeoplewith
varyingopinionsthatwillwanttofightfortheircause.Theclosestwewillgettoaformofpeace
isfreedomforallindividuals.Freedomtospeak,topracticeanyreligion,toprotest,topublish.
Throughfreedom,weloseastructuralaspectthataccompaniesalargeoverlyingpower.But
maybethatsokay.Toanextent,maybechaosisthewaytopeacefulness.Peoplearehappiest
whentheyareallowedtolivetheirownlifewithminimalrestrictions.Obviouslysomelawsare
putinplacetokeepthepeopleofanationinlinetopreventdeathanddangerousconditions.
Butafreenationwherepeopleareallowedtomaketheirowndecisions,fulfilltheirown
personalneeds,andhavefreedomsthatisanationthatisatpeace.

Monday,March14
Somanypeoplearedisconnectedfromtheworld.Theytendtoliveintheirownworld,oblivious
toothersfeelings,talents,orpersonalities.Theisolatedlifethatresultsfromthislackof
connectionrestrictspeoplefromreachingtheirfullpotential.Insteadofstandingnextto
someonelookingatyourphone,engagetheminaconversation.Theymightbeabletogiveyou
anamazingopportunity,orbecomeimportantinyourlife.Sonexttime,turnaround.There
mightjustbeaonceinalifetimeopportunityawaitingatyourback.

Monday,April4
Apopularproblemthatconcernsmeistheloomingthreatofglobalwarming,whichisoften
ignoredorsetasideinourcurrentsociety.Itisconsideredacontroversialtopicamong
politicians,whodebateontheamountofmoneythatshouldbespentorwhatregulationsshould
beimposeduponbusinesstosolvethisproblem.Somepeoplebelievethatitisagrowing
threat,whileothersbelieveitisjustanaturalprocesstheEarthisgoingthrough.Iamonthe
sideofscienceinthisissue.Sciencehasprovenoverandoverthatcarbonemissionsfrom

industrialactivitiescauseproblemsinouratmosphereconcerningthegreenhouseeffect,which
keepsweatheronEarthssurfacerelativelymild.Theseproblemscausemoreradiationto
permeatethroughEarthsatmosphere,causingextremeweatherpatternstooccur.Althoughthe
riseoftemperatureonEarthssurfacedoesnotseemdrastic,evenahalfdegreeriseinthe
oceanstemperaturehasthepotentialtocompletelyalteroceanlife.Ifstepsarenottakento
preventthisimpendingthreat,ourEarthwillbedestroyedinthefuture,leavinghumanitywithout
essentialresources,makingtheEarthanuninhabitableplanet.Topreventthisfromoccurring,
countriesshouldbespendingmoneyonenvironmentalgovernmentregulationsandscientific
researchtocreategreenerindustrialactivities.Withthepoliticalassociationoftheissueand
doubtthatthatcirculatesthetopic,theoutcomeofenvironmentalregulationsdoesnotseemto
bepositive.Regardless,peopleneedtocontinuetofightforthisissueinthegovernmentand
scientificallytoensurefuturegenerationsaplanetonwhichtheyareabletocallhome.

Monday,May2
TheonememoryIwouldkeepofmymomisthelookonherfaceonChristmasDay.Every
Christmasmorning,myfamilygathersinourlivingroom(atanhouralittletooearly,duetomy
youngersistersimpatience)andgetsreadytoopenpresents.Thepresentsareseparatedinto
theirrespectivepiles,andmysiblingsandIeachtaketurnsopeningthepresents.Thispast
year,whileweopenedourpresents,Ibegantorealizehowmuchtimeandeffortandmoneymy
momputsintobuyinguspresentstomakeushappy.Eachtimeanyoneofusopenedupagift
thatweliked,thebiggestsmilewouldstealherwayontoherface.Shewassohappythatwe
werehappy,thatshegotussomethingthatwouldbringusjoy.ItsnowIrealizethatthosepetty,
materialisticobjectswrappedinshinypaperanddecoratedwithbowsarejustwaysofsayingI
loveyou.ItmademerealizehowmuchItakeforgranted,howmuchItakemymomfor
granted.Everythingshedoesisforherchildren,andshestheretosupportusineverything.I
cantbelievehowfortunateIamtohaveherinmylife.(Thisisofficiallymycheesiestfreewrite.)

Monday,May9
Shewalkedthroughthedampgrassbarefoot,wanderingthroughtheearth.
Herthoughtsranin
timewithherfeet
.Sunlightsqueezedthroughthespacesinthecloudsandcaressedherface.
Thedarkwoodssurroundedherasanirrelevantconcern.Shewasfocusedonthewarmth
seepingintoherskinandthecoolbreezeweavingthroughherhair.Atlast,sheapproached
whatshehadbeenlookingfor.Shefelldownontotheflooroftheearthandletthegrass
becomeherblanket,theleavesherpillow.Thegirlfellasleepuponherbed.Maybe,justmaybe,
shewouldgrowroots,growconnectionsfromthesmallofherbackandtheheelsofherfeetinto
thesoil.Maybe,justmaybe,shewoulddecomposeintothegrassandgrowbackasabedof
flowers,decoratingtheearthwiththeircolorandperfume.Ormaybe,justmaybe,shewouldlift
intotheclouds,intoakingdomshehadbeenpromised.Toomanymaybesnotenough
answers.

May31,2016
YouknowyoureanIBEnglishstudentwhenyouhearthewordVictorandimmediatelyhear
ThomasBuildstheFirecallingVictorsnametoaskyetanotherevasivequestion.
YouknowyoureanIBEnglishstudentwhenyouknowallthewordstothesongEverythingis
Awesome.
YouknowyoureanIBEnglishstudentwhenyourclassmatescalleachotherAgilulfasajoke
forquestioningexistence.
YouknowyoureanIBEnglishstudentwhennoanalysisistooanalytical.
YouknowyoureanIBEnglishstudentwhenthestereotypesthatwereengravedinyourmind
werechallengedanddiscardedthroughouttheschoolyear.
YouknowyoureanIBEnglishstudentwhenyoustartquestioningwhetheranythingweknowis
forcertain.