When The Going Gets Though

Character; we know it when we see it. Maybe more importantly, we know it when it is missing. Character builds over time. Character is additive. We cannot waste our youth pursuing things that neuter or subtract from our character. Equally true, we cannot spend our older years tearing down the character we built. Our character is developed through time. More accurately, our character is developed through our experiences and what we choose to learn and do from them. Trials and tribulations are tough. We all have them in some way. We can mask them, pretending they are not really there. We can tackle them, risking relationships and results. What I know is we cannot ignore them, and we must face them. Each year, we begin with a ritual with little lasting impact: Resolution-making. Instead of making resolutions, maybe we should do things to build our character every day. Imagine what a year’s worth of character-building could produce. We should never ignore our habits, though. Habits effect character.

Dear Mentor

Dear Mr. Orlick,

         I'm doing research on a topic that has intrigued me since the beginning of sophomore year. As I been thinking about what I'm going to do after high school and my goals that I want to accomplish in life. I've noticed that in a daily basis we do the same routine all over again in order for us to reach that level of accomplishment to our goals that is when it comes to school or work. My big question is "What is the point on waking up the next day if we're doing the same routine all over again? Were we build as robots?" As an AVID teacher who encourages his students to go to college, what do you have to say about this when it comes to working endless years to have a successful career (to gain $$$). We live in a country that all you need in life is money for survival so having to do a certain thing all over again will really make a difference everyday for your well being to live life to the fullest... If it's possible, I would like to meet with you to discuss on my big question in more clear detailed.

Sincerely,

Yenifer Castro

Worthy Mentors

David (Dad):
I would have to say my dad, because he has a good point of view on this topic by having two mindsets of religion and well being. 

• Religion- having to live life to the fullest
• Well being- is seeing if your actually happy on how your daily routine is influencing your personal/ mental self

Marcela (Sister):

From all people I feel like my sister can really understand where I'm coming from with this question since that she has been through this age and had many wonders on life itself. We have a nine year age gap so it really does help me think about my big question by comparing it my age right now with her's who's in the adult life.

Mr. Orlick (AVID Teacher):

He would always remind his students that as your going off to college and adulthood you can't forget that you have to balance your school life and personal. Your health always comes first then anything else so yes it's good to try hard and succeed in school but again remember that what you are doing is making you happy.

Cue Theme Music

I think the central theme of The Great Gatsby includes the American Dream, money, and betrayal. 

• American Dream- In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses a variety of literary devices to portray the American Dream. One example is the the green light that symbolizes Gatsby's hopes and dreams for a life with Daisy. Another symbol is the Valley of the Ashes, which represents the ugly consequences of America's obsession with wealth.

• Money- For the characters who don't have money, particularly Gatsby, money represents security. A large part of his attraction to Daisy is her affluence: all her life, from childhood on, she has lived in a household with enough money and has never known want. 

• Betrayal- The first betrayal that takes place is Tom's betrayal of Daisy. Tom betrays his wife Daisy when he has an affair with a woman named Myrtle. The second betrayal is Gatsby betraying himself. Jay Gatsby could have easily been a very successful man and could have done a lot of great things with his life.

Resources

1. https://www.cbc.ca/life/wellness/how-and-why-waking-up-at-the-same-time-everyday-can-improve-your-health-1.4357391
2. https://medium.com/better-humans/the-power-of-doing-the-same-thing-every-day-e4994df1c1a2
3. https://www.quora.com/How-do-people-find-the-motivation-to-wake-up-every-day-and-do-the-same-things-all-over-again
4. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/sleep/how-to-establish-a-wakeup-routine-for-a-good-morning-every-morning
5. http://www.skilledatlife.com/18-reasons-why-a-daily-routine-is-so-important/
6. https://open.buffer.com/daily-success-routine/
7. http://www.approachyouractions.com/wake-up-early/
8. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/anxiety-work-cooking-sleep_b_5c07f15de4b06d70d3775ca6
9. https://www.insider.com/signs-your-bedtime-routine-is-bad-for-you-2018-4
10. https://markmanson.net/stop-trying-to-change-yourself

Preview Of Gatsby Essay

Prompt: The notion of the American dream figures prominently in this story.  How do readers define the American dream?  Moreover, is pursuing the American dream necessarily a good thing?

• American Dream- the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved
• By having money, a car, a big house, nice clothes and a happy family symbolizes the American dream. 
• This dream also represents that people, no matter who he or she is, can become successful in life by his or her own work.
•  The desire to strive for what one wants can be accomplished if they work hard enough. 
• The dream is represented by the ideas of a self-sufficient man or woman, who works hard to achieve a goal to become successful. 
• (Intro)- The Great Gatsby is a novel that shows what happened to the American Dream in the 1920’s, which is a time period when the dreams became corrupted for many reasons. The American dream not only causes corruption but has caused destruction. Myrtle, Gatsby and Daisy have all been corrupted and destroyed by the dream

>>>>How does F. Scott Fitzgerald portray the American Dream in The Great Gatsby through his use of symbolism and other literary devices? 

• Fitzgerald uses a variety of literary devices to portray the American Dream. One example is the the green light that symbolizes Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for a life with Daisy. Another symbol is the Valley of the Ashes, which represents the ugly consequences of America’s obsession with wealth. Fitzgerald uses these symbols to convey the illusory nature of the American Dream.

What's So Great About Gatsby

1. Is Gatsby great?  Is he even good?  Why/ why not?

• He's similar to the American Ideal. Someone who re-forges himself to conform to what he thinks is success, and to be the kind of person who will draw Daisy to him. He's pretty much an actor playing a role and that's not good. And you really can't have a person who portrays as a mysterious person who's an admirable human being.

2. Nick opens the book by complimenting himself for his honesty.  Is Nick honest with himself?  Why does he constantly hang out with dishonest people?  Why does he respect them and seek out relationships with them?

• Nick certainly seems to be a pretty honest character. He doesn't have the womanizing attitude of Tom, the deceptive heart of Daisy, or even the law-breaking tendencies of his beloved Gatsby.

3. Fitzgerald describes Daisy and Tom this way: “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”  What does this mean?  Do you agree?

• The reason why I think Fitzgerald describes Tom and Daisy as careless people is because they have ruin lives of other individuals and simply disappear by hiding behind their wealth. I do agree that they are careless people because not only did they ruin other people's lives/ relationships but there own as well. Their relational ship as husband and wife is all about dishonestly, wealthy, and no communication with one and another. 

4. Do you understand Daisy's behavior?  Do you agree with her choices?  Is she a person you would let your brother/son/friend date?

• I do understand Daisy's behavior to an extent on loving both man at the same time. Yes, I do understand why she picked Tom since that he's the father of her child; even though he cheated on her with Myrtle. He has gained her love throughout their time of being with each other without wealth. Unlike for Gatsby he had a fantasy on getting the love of his life back with the amount of money he has. For example, his mansion, over the top parties, high end clothing, cars, etc. If you're telling me that if I would ever let her date a brother, son or friend I wouldn't just because if she ever loved Gatsby truly she wouldn't failed in love with Tom and wouldn't have lost faith on knowing if Gatsby survived the war. They always say that "if you had to choice in two people to be with go with the second people because if you ever loved the first one you wouldn't be interested in the second." which I believe is true. How can you know if you're not willing to do the same thing all over with another guy and the next.

5. The last line of the book: "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."  What does this mean?  How does it relate to the theme/s of the book?

• This is a final image of Gatsby as powerful presence who lives on despite the destruction of the dream. Nick reminds us on the thin line separating dreams from reality, causing everyone to stop and wonder about the validity of the dreams people chase.