PHOTOS! Each with unique title:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fZ-kmFcjSzG7MZFISlic7jlIABBJcg6s?usp=sharing
Song to listen to while viewing: Merry-Go-Round of Life by Joe Hisaishi:
https://open.spotify.com/track/39uLYYZytVUwcjgeYLI409?si=f1c365594ea94d48
The Garfield Movie (2004): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g1SLGRM6qU
Pokemon Cards
https://www.instagram.com/p/DE3mdTURfSV/ ROPOPO DOG
Celeste (I’m bad at the game)
Jack Black’s a Minecraft Movie performance
Peach Calpis Milk Drink Concentrate
Luv(sic) Hexalogy album by Nujabes
Canadian dim sum restaurants
“Happiness depends on each person. If you think you’re happy, then you must be happy.” -Gintoki Sakata
6. Pick your favorite novel/play you read. Briefly, or not, describe why you like it. Include the video link (required): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lZvgGsBCR5hjZgvoJCsMUTPIS48K78ea/view?usp=sharing
Throughout my 4 years of high school, my favorite book that I read was Born a Crime. I’m not just saying this because this was a book recommended to me during Story and Style, but I was genuinely very interested in what he had to say as a person.
What I find so unique about Trevor Noah is that despite having a traumatic and abusive-filled childhood, he decides to incorporate humor, which makes the content much easier to digest for readers. This really resonated well with me because I was able to understand the heavy themes that Noah was attempting to convey, while also keeping a keen interest in his funny childhood shenanigans. I also really enjoyed reading about his culture because before reading this book, I knew next to nothing about South Africa.
I find Trevor Noah to be a very inspiring person, as he smiles through his problems and prioritizes the people he loves, even paying his mom’s hospital bills when nobody else could. On top of that, he keeps on doing the thing he loves: comedy.
SONG: Eternal Life by Jeff Buckley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T81XdxQyu7M
Video Link:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pX11b2nDgNX2QDu1i-sJjomMSHiarHU4/view?usp=sharing
Explaination:
The song I will talk about today is a special one called Eternal Life by Jeff Buckley. It has a very interesting backstory, as it was inspired by Buckley’s dissatisfaction with the violent world. Buckley was born 2 years before Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, so the song was mostly inspired by this unfortunate event. Buckley's
#9. Write a “Thank You” letter to a loved one. OR Write a letter of advice to your son/daughter upon entering high school.
Dear Son/Daughter (I may name you either Isco or Hannah),
I hope you've had lots of fun in middle school! High school is going to be one of the most transformative times of your life, both positively and negatively. As your journey takes you through the highs and lows, you always have to remember that school is not just for academic learning, but also about staying true to yourself and paving your own path along the way.
Despite all of the adversities that you are facing, I want you to remember that happiness is the thing that you should chase. Not the prestige of a college, not the validation of a distant friend, nor the money in my pocket. Personally, when I was experiencing high school, I had let these expectations consume my entire being. I skipped hanging out with my friends to study, I dropped hobbies because of a lack of time. I lost motivation to do not just school work, but to socialize as well. To this day, I probably still regret many of these small decisions I have made. Please never lose sight of yourself in pursuit of your own definition of “success”. Please don’t end up living with regrets about what could have been your high school life.
Additionally, friends are very important to make! During your freshman year, it’s going to be very hard to adjust to this completely new environment. Having a few close, yet trustworthy friends will definitely help you feel comfortable wherever you go. When I was in high school, I always looked for a friend to talk to and provide me with advice and validation. I can now proudly say that most of my best high school memories were shared between my friends and I. However, the wrong friends can also lead you down many dark paths. Please remember to choose your friends well and put yourself out there for the world to see.
(Insert son/daughter name) I truly believe that you are going to do great things in high school, and I’m sure you’re going to have fun every step of the way. Now, it’s time for you to believe in yourself. Stay confident and believe in the very purpose that you are about to make. These 4 years will stick with you throughout the rest of your life. No matter how high school may end up looking for you, remember that I will always be there to guide you every step of the way. I will always be proud of you.
Best of luck in high school!
-Your dad, Robert Yu
#4. What’s your greatest fear and/or hope with regard to life after high school?
An Ode to Uncertainty:
Uncertainty. Uncertainty is my greatest fear, yet my greatest hope for the future. The question “What if?” has tormented me ever since freshman year. What if I end up homeless? What if I don’t get accepted into any other colleges? Uncertainty is one of the things that fuels my will to continue. Despite this uncertainty and my fear for it, I have still resolved to let life’s randomness take me on journeys to come. I still don’t know what I want to become older, whether it be a doctor, physical therapist, or even a rockstar, but these paths are all something that I hope to discover in the future.
With this unexpected optimism that uncertainty brings, it also fuels my doubt in the world’s stability. The world is constantly changing, and there will never be a guarantee that the world is at peace. For all we know, the next world war could start at the blink of the eye. If global warming and constant pollution persists, or oceans and rivers may soon run black, chock-filled with carcinogens. The world tomorrow will always be different today. Though some may consider this beautiful, others may grit their teeth about the worst-outcome-scenarios to come without intervention.
It is my personal philosophy to combine this pessimistic alertness with an optimistic drive. I want to account for every possible flaw, yet adapt to wherever life’s randomness takes me. I absolutely despise being uncertain every step of the way, but I also cherish the spontaneous journeys where life shines brightest. Randomness is everything.
#2. What, would you say, is your most valuable possession? How did you acquire this possession? Why is it so meaningful? Try and think of something besides your phone, maybe think of something with sentimental value.
An unassuming digital camera. Once owned by my father, it sat for years, its flash and shutter sequestered, bound shut by time. Dust caking its sleek black exterior, it’s safe to say that this camera has been abandoned and ignored. However, in my search for happiness, my Sony RX100 Cyber Shot found its way, perfectly fitting into my hands.
20 megapixels, packed with a dozen cinematic filters and features galore. This camera is my medium for self expression. Say cheese! Its shutter reels back memories of a shimmering warm beach during my senior ditch day. Before I had found my father’s digicam, I had always taken life’s adventures for granted, my shot of life out of focus. My eyes that used to dart from paper to phone now focus on the subject, poised and proud. As I had described in my portfolio last year, the camera acts as a medium for one's soul– it’s purpose to capture beautiful scenes that could otherwise escape memory.
Just as I can delete an overexposed snapshot, taking photos allows me to escape the negatives within my life and embrace the positives. All the journeys that I take along with my camera are irreplaceable—despite being the one in charge of preserving memories, I also made many more beautiful, lasting recollections. Various filters, touch ups, and adjustments are all made in order to romanticize life to the fullest. In this way, I’d say that I live by the camera.
In your eyes, make life seem better than it actually is. View every moment with gratefulness and remember to cherish memories forever, just as you would a special photo.
PHOTOS! Each with unique title: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fZ-kmFcjSzG7MZFISlic7jlIABBJcg6s?usp=sharing Song to listen to while...
