My Independent Writing Project: Wrong Daughter

Wrong Daughter Writing and Author's Note

Final MS Band Reflection

First Band Video Blog Post

1) Looking back at your earliest days as a musician in middle school, what are you most surprised by?

I am most surprised at how I actually knew more than I thought I did in my earliest days of band.

2) Comparing your musical ability now to your musical ability then, what are you most proud of?

Over the course of the years in Middle School Band, I am most proud of my growth with the use of articulations and dynamics to emphasise and bring energy/emotion towards the music.

3) Looking back over your days in Middle School Band, what are the highlights?

A few highlights over the years in Middle School Band included playing with the Wind Ensemble this year and the close friendships you gain with your instrument group. Band class has always been fun because of all the friends we end up knowing well over the years and how close you are to your own instrument group.

4) What is your favorite Band piece of all time (here or at any other school or event)

I believe that one of my favourite band pieces that we have played over the years was Captain America.

5) What valuable lesson have you learned in Band that you will take with you into High School as both a person and a musician?

Many valuable lessons have been learned over the course of Middle School Band, but one lesson that I have learned as a musician that will be brought with me to HS is how important it is to practice the music at home because you can't always learn how to play a piece in class as it wastes other band members time, and it doesn't allow you to efficiently grow as a musician. As well as, one lesson I have learned as a person that will be brought to HS is that it is helpful to ask fellow members for help if you misunderstand anything and to stay organised.

6) Gratitude is part of every completed journey and every closed chapter.  What are you most thankful for in your Band experience?

During my Middle School Band experience, I am most thankful for the friendships I have gained that have encouraged me, and helped me grow as a musician and as a person.

DEFEATS

Detailed explanations

• Money spent
• How long the walls are
• How many people have been killed
• etc.

Expert opinions

• Site people
• Quote credible people

Facts/stats
Emotional appeal: touching the heart

• Write on the behalf of a perspective

Anecdotes
Testimony
Surveys/studies

• What people of Israel think
• Statistics can be added

Israeli Palestinian Conflict

1. Lines of Demarcation: Where should the border between Israel and Palestine be drawn?
(Where should the borders go? Do we make people move? Do we make a partition?)
Two State Solution: 
(Instead of Israel controlling Palestine, Palestine becomes its own country)
Solution 1: Palestine becomes its own state- own decisions

2. Housing Settlements: How do you propose settling the unresolved dispute over Israeli Housing Settlements into the West Bank? 

What should be done about the housing settlements that have already been built?

3. Jerusalem: Jerusalem is a Holy City to Jews, Muslims, and Christians. How do you propose to make Jerusalem available and safe to all these groups of people, worldwide?

-Israeli have taken up and control of areas of the Jews, including Jerusalem

4. Palestinian Refugees: 

As a result of the military conflicts in 1948 and again in 1967, hundreds of thousands Palestinian people fled out of the borders of Israel to the neighbouring Gaza Strip, West Bank, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. They are a people without a country and have not been allowed to become citizens to the countries they fled to. Sine 1967, their numbers have increased into the millions because of birthrates. (7 million)

What should their rights be? Should they be allowed to return to their homeland in the West Bank(not big enough to handle that many people)? What are some compromises that can be made between Israelis, Palestinians, and the neighbouring countries to resolve this issue?

The Right of Return- "we want to return to our homeland"

Current/ Past Issues in the Middle East
1. US Embassy in Jerusalem

• If it moves to Jerusalem, it will be rude to Palestine's and would show that US supports what the Israelis have done in the 1947 agreement. Supporting Israeli taking Jerusalem. Will become a religious issue. Intifada- a holy war

2. Caterpillar Tractors in Israel

• From the money of the aid from the US, Israeli's used Caterpillar Tractors to build borders which made the Muslim's upset. 

3. Zionist Christian Support of Israel

• Millions of dollars for Jewish support
• Religious issue

Band: Gb Major

Band: B Major

History Alive Presentation Notes

1. Bill Russell- Chris

• First African American to win an NBA university basketball game
• Broke racial barriers in sports by being a head coach for basketball teams
• Became a part of the Hall of Fame in 1975

2. T.C Williams- Kento and Yoshiya

• First school in the south to teach African Americans students and hold African American teachers
• Located in Virginia
• Supreme Court ruling of Brown v. School Board Education

3. Lewis Hine- Gabi and Andrey

• Photography of child laborer's
• Wanted address the issue to public
• Children were taken because they didn't have to be paid wages unlike adults
• Kids would be tricked and kidnapped

4. Emmeline Pankhurst- Stuti

• Woman suffragist
• Founded Women's Franchise League- helped unmarried women fight 
• Women's Social and Political Union
• Received woman's rights in London then moved to America to help

5. Matthew Shepard- Malu

• Brutally attacked and murdered for being a gay student in University
• Matthew Shepard Foundation- advocate gay rights 

7. Harlem Renaissance- Cheryl

• Cultural explosion in Harlem, New York
• Black civil rights
• Paintings, sculptures, and literary elements showing the Harlem Renaissance
• Didn't intend for art to join movement, just for aesthetic

8.  4.29: Sa I Gu- Euna

• Korean Americans impacted in Los Angeles by being attacked by the African American committee
• Received no help or justice for being a minority group
• 11,000 people arrested

9. Fred Korematsu- Ria

• Asian American rights activist
• Refused to go to relocation/interment camps
• Went to Court to see if it was Constitutionally right to discriminate Asian Americans
• Denied and overruled because of military

10. Emmett Till- Jay

• Murdered at 14 years old
• African American civil rights
• Murderers weren't ruled guilty for being white

11. The Japanese Fight for American Freedom- Jack

• Fights for Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbour
• Forced into interment camps

History Alive Reflection

History Alive Project: http://historyalivethewomensrighttochoose.weebly.com/
Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10yYyz6wPJK8EspAcrU7W3A1UlwyP8UjB6_nQlGxnPSs/edit#heading=h.idpcxy9ld51h

A. During History Alive, I learned a lot about the history of abortion and how it not only affected women. Before History Alive, I had never researched about the history of abortion through the illegalisation, organisations, cases, etc. So, I a was able to understand more about the topic. Most importantly though, I learned about how it not only affected women and it is still very controversial today.

B. If I were to keep improving on my History Alive, one thing I would work on to make it better is to improve our bibliography. I would do this by finding more reliable sources and extending my research; so, not only would the bibliography be better, but the overall writing would extend in depth.

C. One thing I liked about this project is being able to pick any topic from any time period and place. With a free choice on our topic, it allowed me to enjoy the research, writing, and forming of our project as my partner and I chose a topic we were both passionate about. However, one aspect I disliked about this project was having to create an in-depth/annotated bibliography.

D. Through the process of this project, one way I have grown as a learner was by growing on my essay techniques. For our final project, I wrote the analysis of our topic in an essay. So, this added growth for thinking about way to incorporate different text evidence and analysis to support our claim.

Band: E Major

Band: A Major

Band: Line 175

Band: G Major

Band: D Major

Addiction

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1l-paDNkm-FkLzcI1WV3k9qAGyM4LP3pCqNY1Z8_NUJQ/edit#slide=id.p

History Alive Essential Questions

Thesis: The women’s right to chose, a fight for the legalisation and freedom of abortion, is an issue women have been dealing and fighting for since the 1830’s.
1. Who found the first way and came up with the idea of abortion? Who first illegalised abortion?
2. What were the first protests to try to legalise abortion? What were the first protests for a women's right to chose? What were the reasons for people wanting abortion to be legalised or illegalised?
3. Where did illegal abortions take place?
4. When did the first abortion protests start?
5. Why was abortion first illegalised?
6. How did abortion become legalised?

History Alive Topic Ideas

1. Gender segregation

• Woman Suffragist Movement
• Women in war service,
• Alice Paul
• Right to choose

2. Desegregating schools
3. Children rights

•  labour rights in Asia

4. World War 2 Jewish rights in Europe
5. Segregation of Religions


This is not about life or death. This is about a women's right to choose- Opening statement

• Roe Vs. Wade
• January 22, 1973, Supreme Court stopped the law criminalising abortion and allow women to have a choice to terminate pregnancy in Texas.

Music:

http://www.protestsonglyrics.net/Songs-about-Womens-Rights.phtml

Historical Fiction Narrative Poetry and Author's Note

Throughout my previous reading, I have always been interested in books about the Second World War. So, when it came to picking a time period to write about, I definitely wanted to try to write about a different perspective contributed to World War II.

A big contribution to my drawing towards World War II is the connection my family had in  it. My great grandmother, Odette, secretly helped the French Resistance that went against Hitler to protect other countries occupied by Hitler. When I first learned this about my great Grandmother, I definitely felt intrigued to search and read more about World War II as I could learn about how my great Grandmother could have struggled, but also give me a deeper understanding of that time period.

Liljana Wozniak, who is my main character in the book, is not a person in real life, but slightly reflects my great grandmother in certain ways as she is headstrong and despises the war. I wanted Liljana to reflect how hard the times were during the war through a lot of confusion and conflicts she never thought she would go through. Most World War II novels have characters that have a preference to one of the sides in the war that would do them justice, however, I mainly focused on Liljana trying to resolve her family and make an escape and not have any preference to the sides in the war. I first formed the idea on writing my historical fiction in-verse story based on the first act of the war, which was the divide of Poland, from the character Emilia Stozek in  a previous reading from a book I love called: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. Liljana and Emilia have drastic differences in their personalities from Liljana being headstrong, compared to Emilia always being reserved, very quiet, and dependent. However, both characters do go through a lot of the same confusions and conflicts; for example, both characters were raped by Russian soldiers. This conflict was a big issue towards Liljana in my story as it was a bigger burden to carry on her shoulders.

History.com, helped me learn and add the information to my poems on how the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact was signed between Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin on August 23, 1939. This pact was signed as an alliance that was wanted to prevent more issues to the battles that had already started in Europe. The pact claimed that the Nazi Germans and Soviet Union would not perform any violence and attack on each other for ten years. However, Adolf Hitler disobeyed this pack in June 1941 when Nazi Germans invaded the Soviet Union.

The first act that contributed towards the Second World War started with Hitler’s invasion on claiming the west side of Poland as it broke the Munich Agreement that was set between Germany, France, and the British. The French and British set this pack as they wanted to keep Hitler restricted and knew that he would use Poland as a target, so they tried to bring arm forces to Poland and help the Polish.  So, when my poems claim how “the pact has broken”, the main part behind that was how Hitler had broken the Munich Agreement, and further on the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pacts. The first disobeyance of the Munich Agreement did have a big impact on not only the West side of Poland, which Hitler occupied, but also the East because it limited their contact and resources that would be brought between the areas of the country.

There are millions of  stories, experiences, and feelings during the Second World War that are not heard. All have dealt through suffering, pain, sadness, confusion, and some even happiness. Liljana Wozniak, from Vilnius, Poland, struggled  with the weight of all her conflicts building up on her, but she found her strength and courage to accept her place and what will come ahead. Not everything will be enjoyable, but not everything will be horrible. With time you will have to accept it and find your voice.

The Start

The Goodyear Radio filling my ears with its static rings,

but all I hear is the dread

of the news

arriving

to ratify  everyone

of the upcoming death

and ruin of our lives.

September 1, 1939,

Adolf Hitler has started to invade west Poland,

everyone knows this is

the start of the war.

The radio is talking how Hitler

has brought shock to the French and British as he has started to break the Munich Agreement.

Through the crackles and twitches

the man says:

“Adolf Hitler

can’t be trusted with the rest of his agreements.

He will continue to perform aggression.”

My home,

once wholesome,

once connected,

where I could travel to the West

with no complications,

but now torn apart

by the rule of Hitler.

Poland is on edge

to Hitler's actions.

We knew there would be issues,

but never wanted to be involved

in this war

I despise.

We can only hope

he doesn’t disobey the German-Soviet Nonaggression pact.

Otherwise

Poland could end up in ruins.

We all try to ignore this,

but it’s inevitable.

June 1941,

The pact

has broken.

Somewhere Away

I stand in front of the kitchen window,

clasping the raindrop sapphire around my neck,

envisioning the kingfisher.

Its vibrant

blue,

yellow,

orange

feathers dancing in the wind.

Picking itself up off the ground,

flying away.

I imagine the bird,

flying to somewhere safe,

flying to family,

escaping.

I wish to see that Kingfisher.

To have it fly me away,

out of this war,

like it did.

I can’t help but think:

I wish I  was a bird.

Anyone but me.

What Is Yet To Come

The footsteps and spits,

clicks of the foreign tongue,

“тихо!”

have faded out of the ringing in my ears.

The contortion of pain piercing through my face,

trembling to the bone,

buckling joints,

streaming tears.

My eyes pull open,

trying to find the peace and safety I have now forgotten.

Pushing myself against the barn wall,

now afraid of anything touching me,

anything wanting me,

anything forcing me.

My voice hoarse through the screams

constantly ignored.

Nothing no longer the same.

Why me?

I Don’t Know You

Jolting awake,

screams trapped in my throat.

The flowing night gown

now trapped to my skin

drenched in sweat.

Again,

the only nightmare keeping me awake these nights,

the fear of the Russian soldier.

Faceless.

Merciless.

Careless.

Why could such a stranger,

terrify me in ways,

I can’t envision.

The images,

drawings,

flashing like a hurricane in my mind.

There he is,

with his eyes scratched out,

he didn’t care what he saw.

The ears and forehead missing,

he didn’t care

or listen.

All he is

is the fear hiding behind a mask,

someone who you will never know,

but will

remain scared on you.

The Last Time

It’s raining today,

a day for God to cry for those who have

lost their lives.

A mourning day.

I stare out my bedroom window,

hoping to see that kingfisher,

but I know,

it’ll never come.

Suddenly, I’m taking aback,

my head spinning,

unable to focus on a solid point,

the sudden flow of nausea rising up my throat.

I run to the bathroom,

unleashing the contents.

I sit back down on the ground,

questioning the purpose of my sickness.

With hundreds of possibilities,

I can’t help but bring it down to one,

horrifying thought.

Pregnant.

It Sticks

Death sticks around,

clings to you,

like the toddlers trying to get food and find shelter in this war.

No matter what,

It never leaves.

The haunting smell of dead corpses

feels permanent these days.

But why are the innocent ones

the ones who are dying?

I  wish to bring back all the lost souls

and pour them onto Hitler and Stalin,

to watch them feel the pain of death,

their cruelty,

their selfishness.

Instead,

I’m stuck next to my dying mother.

Watching another innocent life

disappear.

Out of all the death causes going on right now,

my Mama gets cancer.

The one issue  I wish I could have control over

out of all the impossibilities.

I would give up everything to save Mama,

but there’s not much to give up anymore.

Her soft hands

placed like a butterfly between my own,

with the faint,

slowing

heartbeat thrumming my gritted fingertips.

Mama could sing a melody to her own beat,

it would bring life to the flowers,

bring joy to animals.

It would make me feel safe.

The raindrop sapphire,

my mothers greatest possession,

Is splayed between my fingers,

reflecting my streaming tears.

Mama is gone,

and all I have to hold onto her

is her necklace.

What I would do to see her wear it another day,

as she cleans the dishes,

as she sways through the streets,

as she sings the memory of peace,

as she would be living.

Breaking Ties

I can’t remember

the last time my family and I have agreed.

The War has not only divided Poland,

but also my family.

It’s so easy to be on one side,

and think that it fulfills you.

Papa says Stalin is best

Our home is in fact occupied by him,

but Aleksander believes we should trust Hitler

and move to the East side of Poland occupied by him.

What would use to be

the joyful,

the passionate,

the positive conversations,

have now turned to a war in itself at the dining table.

I thought that being secluded in my own home

would keep me out

and forget the war,

but how can I leave the war

if there is one between my own family?

Ever since Mama died,

the grief has turned to anger,

the anger from the war has turned to rage.

Suffocating in the typhoon of emotions

fogging the house.

I question if I still

belong in my family.

I find myself so far away,

wanting to be away,

trying to get away.

I wish Mama could still be here.

She too would want to escape this war with me.

The rowdy bulls of my father and brother could be silenced

by her.

If only I could do that,

and bring the peace to my family

that I long.

Don’t Go

I step into Aleksander’s room.

He’s already rummaging around the room,

packing his bag to leave.

“Please don’t go,” I say,

“Papa didn’t mean it.”

His gaze flicks up,

filled with the look of disbelief.

The constant arguments,

opposing views,

have lost the connection between Aleksander and Papa.

Aleksander said to Papa he wanted to leave and join Hitler’s Nazi troop.

Papa said he wouldn’t allow him to take one step out of Vilnius.

That once he takes one step out

he is disowned,

and shall never come back.

I don’t understand why the war

has taken

such a control on our lives.

Why does it have to break my family?

Why won’t it leave?

Like a shadow during the day,

constantly following in your footsteps.

And at night,

swallowing you whole,

in it’s dark,

empty,

vast space.

Why haven’t I left yet?