Janie

In the book Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie is a woman whose husband died and is now planning to marry a much younger man whose name is Tea Cake.  Everyone in the town of Eatonville thinks that Janie is foolish and that Tea Cake only wants to marry her because she has a lot of money.  Janie said she is willing to take that chance because she is in love with him.  I do no think that Janie is foolish on taking a chance with Tea Cake because if nobody ever takes risks, you most likely will not achieve what you are striving for in life.  I think that love is something worth taking risks for and if Janie is willing to put all of her money on Tea Cake then she has every right to and it is none of the towns business what she does with her personal life.

Someone I am Thankful For

I am thankful for so many people that have just recently come into my life and those that have been in my life for a long time now.  I appreciate everyone in my classes that have helped me understand the material we cover, it is very helpful.  In English class, the people that I am especially thankful for is Morgan, Sloane, and Camryn.  They're some of the first faces I see in the mornings, and I am so glad they help me wake up and get me in a good mood to start my day.  Even the littlest of things can mean a lot to a person and I just want them to know that I am very thankful for them!

A Principle We Should Keep

A principle that I would always like to keep is the principle of honesty.  When you are honest with everyone around you, life seems to go on much smoother and without conflict.  From personal experience I know that if you tell a simple lie, that lie spirals into much bigger lies and makes the situation worse.  If the principle of honesty was followed all the time, people would live happier lives without holding the guilt of a lie inside of them.  Many people tell small lies to protect someone's feelings or to make things easier for themselves, but if you truly want to live a satisfying life without regret or guilt, I think that honesty is a principle you should follow.

Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway is known as one of America's greatest writers.  His short stories have marveled many peoples minds from the time that they were written, not long ago.  Ernest had not had the easiest time growing up, from what others tell.  His father was cruel yet sentimental towards his children and his mother dressed him up in girls clothes.  Hemingway had found his talent to write through the school newspaper when he was in high school. 
Ernest Hemingway did not cooperate when he was given orders.  When told he could not fight in the war, Hemingway joined the red-cross in order to see the battle.  Throughout his writings and through his personality you can see that masculinity is one of the main focus's of his life.  He was good at hunting, fishing, and almost any sport he played.  He also had numerous love interests during his time.  He was married four times and had many affairs during these marriages.  Although he loved his wives, he did not respect them in a way that husbands should.
People close to Hemingway remember him as a lively, witty man that may have had a drinking problem.  Some say it was his second favorite thing to do, besides write.  Many people do not deny this, but in fact say that Hemingway separated his writing time from all other activities that he might have done.  It is believed that he never would have let drinking interfere with his writing.
Hemingway wrote story after story that had critics speechless, but one story in particular had them writing harsh reviews stating that he was a drunken writer.  When he wrote, "The Old Man and the Sea", which is said to be his best novel of all time, he regained his place in the literary world.  By the time he was pretty old, he had received the Nobel Prize, every writers dream.   

Six Word Stories

Disappointment is a road everyone travels.

Darkness in eyes, like black butterflies.

Memories now fade like crashing waves.

Running from things that don't matter.

Bitterness, like a disease, spreads quickly.

She waited until the lights faded.

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge?

In my personal opinion, I think that John Proctor had made many mistakes in his lifetime, but when it came to the biggest decision of his life, I think he did what was best for him in the end.  After John committed adultery, he felt guilty because he knew it was wrong and that he had betrayed his wife.  I think that John Proctor was a hero because he stood up for what he believed was true and he became the person his wife wanted him to be, a good man.  I think he did what he had to do for himself because he might not have been able to live with himself for choosing to blame someone else and put them in the position that he was in.  I also believe that he was a good example for the town because he was a respectable man and his death and denial to confess was a wake up call to those who blamed others in order to get out of trouble.  I think John was his own hero because he overcame his fear and decided to make the right choice for himself and others.

There Goes The Neighborhood

When the explorers and settlers crossed over to the Americas from the Eastern Hemisphere, they affected the Natives in a way that can never be undone.  The explorers wanted to change everything about the natives.  When the settlers first arrived on the islands, the natives were very friendly and warming to them because they thought that these people were sent from God.  But as time went by, the natives realized that the explorers were not saviors of God, but rather the opposite.  The explorers would cheat the natives out of their possessions, kidnap them to bring them to Europe, and steal their land in order for them to make settlements.  This caused great conflict between the two very different groups.  The groups were very different in religious standings and traditional standings.  When the settlers came over and tried to convert all the natives to their religion, Christianity, the natives were very offended.  But because of the technology that was developed in the Eastern Hemisphere, like guns, it was hard for some of the natives to say no when their lives were in danger.  The two groups also had very different traditions.  They had different ways of getting food and cooking that food.  They praised different things; for example the natives were very spiritual towards nature and the resources it gave them, and the settlers were mostly Puritan, Quaker, or a different religion.  The Puritans praised and feared God, they were very strict and set in their ways, while the Quakers were not as strict.  When the settlers tried to take over and convert the natives to their religions, you can imagine why they were very upset.  The explorers tried to change everything about the way the natives lived, and if they refused, they could have and sometimes did take their lives.

About Me

My name is Sarah Marie Sheehan and I am fifteen years old.  I was born the day before Halloween which can be bad at times because people usually forget it.  I am a sophomore at Whitney Young HS and I play volleyball there for the school team.  I also play club volleyball which is year round.  I have lived in Chicago my whole life and only plan on leaving for collage.  I have not even thought about collage yet, but somewhere in New York City would be a dream come true.  I have always pictured my life in Chicago though, so once I finish collage I would come back home.  I have one sister named Mary who is a senior at Whitney Young.  I don't know what I am going to do when she leaves for collage because she is like a best friend to me.  We borrow each others clothes, talk about everything, and she is always there when I need her.  I have a dog named Shamrock and a turtle named Mrs. T.  I love all animals except for squirrels because they scare me.  My family takes a vacation every summer to somewhere we have never been before.  This last summer we went to San Pedro and San Ignacio, Belize.  The experience of meeting people who lived a much simpler life then we do was amazing and inspiring.  I hope to have the opportunity to go back to Belize one day and help the families we met and the people that were very kind to us.  I love reading, but if I don't like a book by the end of the third chapter I usually do not end up finishing it.  I love to ski and snowboard, either in the water or going down a snowy mountain.  I may seem shy when you first meet me, but once you get to know me, I open up more and more.