Quarter 4- Journal 13: Emilie Lothet

Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. Coffee. Work. Work. Work Work. Coffee. Work Work. Good, I'm glad you have her life story. She's the biggest work-aholic i know. She's intense. She never lets anything separate her and her studies. Yes, that includes sleeping. And potentially breathing if she gets nervous... or eats cinnamon. Anyway, this girl is one of the most academically gifted people I know. To be able to go to a foreign country with two years of language for that country, live there for a year, then jump into the IB program... it's just amazing. I could NEVER do that, especially with the success that she does. She wants to be a surgeon when she grows up, and I'm sure that she'll be a hell of a good one. As you can probably notice, at this point, I'm only talking about her work/schooling. That's because, after one year, that's all I know about her. She doesn't really do much else. I wish she had more hobbies, and made more Emilie-time at times. I think that's something she really needs to work on. The best thing about Emilie is that she'll help you in a class if you don't understand something, until you get it. She doesn't get frustrated, that way. The worst thing about Emilie is that when she's working, she can get easily frustrated with others, and doesn't realize that people are going to talk, even though she's doing work.

Quarter 4- Journal 12: Ian Kropp

So here it is. The kid infamous for his scream. This scream is usually used when he finds out A) something shocking B) that we have a project due tomorrow or C) that everyone is staring at him for something he said/did. Definitely one of the most innocent beings in our IB class, despite his approval of "fowl language." Ha. haha. We also have a great time of quoting SpongeBob together, and trying to integrate immature comedy into our every day lives. So yeah. I didn't really get to know Ian Kropp until this year, but he's one cool guy. He's really nice and understanding when you're in bad mood, too. He also always tries to see the best in people. He has his opinions straight, without shoving them down your throat. He's a true blue good guy, and I don't think there are many of those around. I'm not one of them, really. The best thing about Ian Kropp is his understanding and capacity for the human race, and how tolerant he is of everyone. The worst thing about Ian Kropp would be his dislike for talking about things that are unfortunate, but must be faced anyway since they're a reality.

Quarter 4- Journal 11: Ian Cassidy

No, he's not filthy. I met this kid in 7th grade, and we've had quite the history together. We used to be really good friends with Zach Wells, but they had a fall out. I've managed to stay pretty good friends with both. Ian and I are super tight now, though, but he was closer with Zach before. We bruddahs. (We're brothers.) But yeah, we've definitely gone through a lot together. 4 years of CC?! Going on 5, too! Had a lot of intense, deep talks on those runs. And at sleepovers. We like taught ourselves the whole unit on perception before we ever even came to TOK. Lots and lots of sleepovers with this kid- probably around one a weekend. He's also one of few people who can actually endure two hours of straight Mario Kart with me, which is always fun. We always talk about our prostrats (professional strategies) much to Miranda's chagrin, but she secretly enjoys it. We tend to agree to disagree on a lot of things, but we're both okay with it, and it lends itself to good conversation. I'm pretty sure that I'm forgetting something super intense, but I'm not really sure...

Quarter 4- Journal 10: Miguel Benedict

Here's another one. Miguel is the person that I liked the least when I came into IB, but he's actually a cool guy. I heard from someone that he hated me, so I just naturally didn't like him, but I've also heard that's not true. But it's in the past, so whatever. Anyway, Miguel and I get along now. He wishes that the rest of the IB class were as "chill" as him, but really, I think that's a tad hypocritical. Oh, it's not like he'll EVER read this. Seriously though, he gets upset when other people aren't chill like him. Isn't that a little backwards? Whatever. It's not worth getting too upset over, really. What was funny though, is that he assigned us all animals in our IB class. I'm a rhinoceros, Emilie is a chipmunk, Nick is a peacock... and that's all I remember. Oh, right, Mrs. Hilston is a gazelle. Thank you for that, JM. Sometimes Miguel and I disagree on things, but I like to stand up for what I think, so it doesn't bother me that he does either. The best thing about Miguel are his snide asides that he makes about other people in the class when he's bored/annoyed. The worst thing about Miguel is how easily he gets frustrated with other people, though it usually allows for funny jokes.

Quarter 4- Journal 9: Miranda Amey

And thus begins the IB analysis. Yes. I will be evaluating everyone in the IB diploma program this year. Pros and cons. I think I've lived with these people long enough where I can do this. I'll start with Miranda here, and move on from there. Miranda and I became friends back in sixth grade when we rode the bus together. I miss those days, and I know she does too. She's definitely one of my closest friends, and I can tell her just about anything. Although sometimes she tends to be optimistic instead of realistic, it's always nice to have that, since some people in the IB program are just negative Nancys. Miranda is also one of those people who loves to compete, but doesn't show it because she wants to be "nice." False. Miranda LOVES to win, but she'll never let you know, and always congratulate you on beating her. Miranda also has a PIV fetish, which is intense. She saves people's passwords who check the PIV on her computer. DO NOT CHECK YOUR GRADES ON HER COMPUTER. The worst thing about Miranda is that filthy boyfriend of hers... (kidding). Ian's my bro. If you're having a rough time with someone, and you vent about it to Miranda, she'll try and reason for them, since she always sees the best in people. Usually her reasoning is realistic, though sometimes I wish she'd just bash them with me. (Okay, sometimes she does.) The best thing about Miranda is that whenever we fight, we are able to resolve it within like.. 3 hours. Even if we're in school. It's awesome. So there's Miranda for you. Stay tuned for MIGUEL (Yes, I'm going in order of bio seating.)

Quarter 4- Journal 8: Thousand Cranes

Well, we finally finished our last world literature text. Thank the Lord above. These are some of the worst books I have ever read- but I don’t suppose they were completely useless. I did manage to whip out the poor excuse for a novel, The Stranger, in my SAT writing prompt. I hope they like that. Anyway, Mrs. Hilston called it from the beginning: they won’t be your favorite books, but you can certainly write about them. Yeah, I’ll admit, there’s a lot to write about, despite hating them.

Thousand Cranes, by Yasumari Kawabata, in general turned out to be my second favorite book. The order would have to be From Sleep Unbound >> Thousand Cranes > The Stranger > So Long a Letter. In any case, this book involves the man with the strange fantasies, Kikuji, the sexless wonder, Chikako, and the emotional wall, Fumiko. Kikuji hooks up with a woman twenty years his senior, and that’s definitely NOT expected. Chikako tries to control everyone’s life, and claims to defy gender herself. Awkward. Fumiko also attempts to hide all of her emotion until the resolution of the novel, where she breaks a jar and kills herself. There’s sort of a lot going on, but it’s just funny/ironic because the Japanese culture is supposed to be so relaxed at their tea ceremonies, but that’s when most of the commotion occurs. This is how most literature exists in my eyes- through irony. So there’s my blurb on the Thousand Cranes- yawn.

Quarter 4- Journal 7: Intuition

Just two weeks ago, I wrote a 1400 word essay on how intuition plays into the different areas of knowledge, but I really didn't talk about intuition in general since it didn't relate to the task at hand. In any case, I'd like to use this journal to talk about it. Intuition is defined as: the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning. So it's basically understanding why something happens either upon it happening, or before it happens. I think it's a super strange ability to claim to have, but is totally real at the same time. Maybe they're just coincidences, but I think everyone has those moments where they just think something is going to happen, and then it does. I'd say that's intuitive. Also, babies use intuition from they moment they're born. They understand that when they want something, they can cry to get it, because that will get someone's attention. Therefore, they understand that when they need something, they need someone to help them. They're not born with that knowledge... so it's just intuitive for them. It's interesting to see how intuition plays a role in everyday life.