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Showing posts from March, 2026

How does watching the film version of Into the Wild change or deepen your understanding of Chris McCandless compared to reading the book? In your response, explain one key difference in how his character or experiences are presented, and connect this to a time when seeing something visually changed your understanding of a situation.

Prompt Response: Watching the film makes Chris’s decline feel more visceral and tragic through visuals compared to the book's journalistic tone. The movie's focus on his isolation and the vast scenery romanticizes his journey in a way the text doesn't. This shift reminds me of how seeing footage of a historical event makes its human impact feel far more urgent than just reading about it. Summary: In class we watched the into the wild movie and answered questions. Reflection: The movie is more visual and you can actively see what is happening to Chris.
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Chris and his sister Carine McCandless had a very close relationship, even when he struggled to connect with others. Write about a relationship in your life where you feel truly understood. Explain what makes that relationship strong and how it compares to the connection between Chris and Carine in Into the Wild.

 Prompt Response: My bond with my closest friend is built on an unspoken understanding where we can communicate perfectly without saying a word. Like Chris and Carine, we share a "secret language" rooted in our shared history that makes me feel truly seen even when I’m struggling. This connection is my strongest because, no matter how much we change, that underlying loyalty and support never fade. Summary: We read the book and answered questions Reflection: If you spend enough time with someone, you begin to understand how they think.
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Consider a situation where someone showed concern for you, even in a small way. How did you respond, and what does that reveal about you?

 Prompt Response: When a friend noticed I was quiet and asked if I was okay, I initially brushed it off because I prefer handling stress alone. Their persistence eventually made me open up, which made me realize I actually value being heard. This shows that while I default to being independent, I still deeply appreciate genuine support. Summary: We did vocab in class then did read the book as a class Reflection: I liked today in class because hearing lance read was funny.
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Based on the first 40 minutes of the film and Chapters 1–11 of the book, does the visual version of Chris’s journey make his choices seem more justified or more reckless than the text does? Explain how the medium (film vs writing) shapes your perspective.

 Prompt Response: The movie makes Chris's journey seem more reckless to me. You can visually see what he is losing by doing this, and how nice his life was before he threw it away. It also makes him seem like more of an ungrateful brat in my opinion. The book makes you imagine the visuals and the tone of the characters but the movie tells you what they sound like and what the surroundings are. The book lets you make your own opinions and shape the story how you want. Summary: In class we watched the movie. Reflection: I prefer the book because Chris is getting on my nerves in the movie.
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Think about a moment when your understanding of your family changed as you got older. How did that shift impact your perspective, and how does that connect to Chris’s realization about his parents in Chapter 11?

 Prompt Response: As I got older, I realized my parents were just flawed people trying their best, rather than the perfect authorities I imagined as a kid. This shift made me more empathetic, but it also made me question the rigid rules I had always followed without thought. It connects to Chapter 11 because Chris’s discovery of his father’s double life shattered his view of his family, turning his childhood respect into a deep sense of betrayal and a need to escape. Summary: I was out sick on monday Reflection: I think learning your parents aren't perfect gives you a new respect for them, but also makes you question them more. Gemini sai
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Reflect on your reading of Into the Wild chapters 1–10. Which chapter stood out to you the most, and why? In your response, explain what specifically made this chapter meaningful, interesting, or impactful. You may consider elements such as McCandless’s actions, a key event, a theme, or Krakauer’s storytelling.

 Prompt Response: Chapter 3 stood out to me most because it introduces Wayne Westerberg and shows that McCandless wasn't just a loner, but someone capable of forming deep, hardworking bonds. It was interesting to see how much people in Carthage respected him, which contradicts the idea that he was just a reckless kid who hated society. This chapter made his journey feel more human and impactful because it proved he was leaving behind real connections, not just running away from problems. Summary: I was absent out sick Reflection: Chapter 3 shows McCandless was a respected, hard worker rather than just a reckless loner.
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Chris McCandless rejects a traditional path of success and instead defines success on his own terms through freedom, experience, and personal meaning. Reflect on what success means to you at your current stage in life. In the response, explain how success is currently defined (grades, college acceptance, achievements, happiness, etc.) and where those ideas come from. Then, consider whether that definition truly reflects personal values or if it is shaped by expectations from family, school, or society.

 Prompt Response: Right now, I define success as a balance between maintaining high grades for college and finding genuine happiness in my daily life. These ideas mostly come from a mix of school pressure and my parents' expectations, which make me feel like my future depends on my current performance. While I value hard work, I’m starting to realize that my own definition of success is shifting more toward personal growth and experiences rather than just a GPA. Summary: In class we started chapter 9-10 and did 2 papers Reflection: Finding happiness is important for success.
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Chris chooses independence over relationships. When have you chosen to be on your own instead of relying on others? What happened, and would you make the same choice again?

 Prompt Response: I once chose to do a big project alone because I didn't want to rely on a group that might slack off. It was a lot of extra work and pretty stressful, but I ended up getting the exact grade I wanted. I’d definitely do it again because I prefer being in control of my own success rather than worrying about others. Summary: In class we read chapter 8 and did a paper Reflection: Doing projects by myself can sometimes be the best course of action
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Choose a vocabulary word from Lesson 10 that resonates with you personally. Write a blog post explaining why this word is significant to you, including any personal memories or experiences that link you to the word.

 Prompt Response: The word untenable resonates with me the most. It means can't be defended. This is significant to me because it has a lot to do with sports. I play a lot of sports and some people can't be defended, like prime harden or KD. Summary: In class we did vocab Reflection: I know it has other meanings, but I like the sports meaning of can't be defended the most.
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For most of you, yesterday you took the SAT. If you did not, you will take it before you leave high school. What is your desired SAT score? Identify your top three colleges and explain why each school appeals to you.

 Prompt Response: I hope I got at least a 1400. I got a 33 on the ACT previously so the result doesn't matter to me that much. My top 3 schools are: UGA, Georgia Tech, and UMiami. I picked UGA and Tech because they are close and good schools, also I have been rooting for UGA my whole life. I put Miami because it is a very nice campus and also Miami is a cool place to live. Summary: In class we read chapter 7 of the book Reflection: I hope I did good on the SAT but it doesn't really matter if I didn't.
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Twice a year we adjust our clocks for daylight saving time, but the change can affect our sleep, energy, and daily routines. Now that we have sprung forward; reflect on how this time change impacts you personally. Do you find it easy or difficult to adjust your schedule? Explain how the time change affects your mood, productivity, or daily habits.

Prompt Response: Losing that hour of sleep always makes the first few mornings feel like a total fog, and I definitely find myself reaching for extra caffeine to get through my early classes. However, having more daylight in the evening completely changes my mood and makes me feel way less drained after a long school day. Once I finally adjust my internal clock, the extra sun actually helps me stay more productive and motivated to get my work done. Summary: In class we read chapter 6 of the book. Reflection: I like springing forward because I can play golf later now.
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In Chapter 5 of Into the Wild, McCandless is strongly influenced by writers like Jack London, whose stories shape the way he thinks about adventure and wilderness. Has a book, song, musician, or artist ever influenced the way you think about life, goals, or the world around you? Identify the specific book, song, musician, or artist and explain how their ideas or message affected your thinking.

Prompt Response: The book Atomic Habits by James Clear changed my perspective by teaching me that massive success comes from the compounding effect of tiny, consistent actions. It shifted my focus away from setting intimidating, distant goals toward building reliable systems that make progress feel automatic. This mindset helps me approach challenges with patience, knowing that small daily improvements eventually lead to significant life changes. Summary: In class we read chapter 5 of into the wild Reflection: I think Atomic Habits teaches a good message that little things have big outcomes.
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In Into the Wild, Christopher McCandless gives up many of his possessions in pursuit of freedom and meaningful experiences. If you had to simplify your life and keep only a few important possessions, what would you keep and why? What would be hardest to leave behind?

 Prompt Response: If I had to keep only a few things, I would keep my phone, my car, and food/water. The hardest thing to leave would be my computer, because I use it almost every day to play games. Summary: We read chapter 4 and worked in writable Reflection: I don't think I could go live in the wild with only a few possessions.
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People sometimes feel the need to step away from their normal routines or environments in order to better understand themselves. Describe a time when you needed distance from a situation, place, or group of people in order to think more clearly or gain perspective. What did that experience teach you about yourself?

Prompt Response: During a mid-season slump, the pressure of being a "PO" felt like I was only valued for my arm and not as a teammate. I started staying late after practice to work out in a small garage gym at home, away from the scouts and the constant chatter of the dugout. That time alone taught me that my worth isn't defined by a radar gun, and I actually think more clearly when I'm not viewing myself through someone else's stat sheet. Summary: In class we read the book more Reflection: I think that being a PO has ups and downs, we get the spotlight but all the pressure.
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After reading Chapter 1 of Into the Wild, consider your first impression of Christopher McCandless. Based solely on the events and details presented in this opening chapter, do you believe McCandless truly understood the risks he was taking when he entered the Alaskan wilderness? Why or why not?

 Prompt Response: I don't think he did, because he seemed very nonchalant and uncaring about the mans warnings. He did not pack heavy enough and I don't think he quite knew what he was getting into. Summary: In class we read the first chapter of Into the wild Reflection: I cant see myself ever doing what Chris did, because I like my possessions too much
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Today you worked on creating your Vocabulary Digital Cards in Adobe Express. In one well-developed paragraph, reflect on the assignment by explaining which vocabulary word was easiest for you to understand, which word was most challenging, and how creating your own sentence and selecting an image helped strengthen your understanding of the vocabulary. Use specific examples from your work.

 Prompt Response: The easiest word for me to understand was provocative. I have already heard this word before and already knew what it meant. The hardest word to understand was toady, because I have never heard this used before and it confused me. I associate toads as gross so being toady sounds like a bad thing but it actually means being nice. Creating my own sentence and selecting an image made me think of how a word would be used in real life scenarios and how it could be visually represented. Summary: In class we did the digital vocabulary Reflection: I think doing this made me understand the words better
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