TT+Erika

1. Put yourself in place of one of the boys who escaped the crash but was forced to watch "helplessly as Rob died." What is going through your head? How do you feel physically and mentally? How do you think that you will feel tomorrow? If I were in place of Andy and I had to stand there watching Rob die in the fire, I would have a million things running through my head. One of the things would be how I could try to save him, or how could I have let this happen to him. The one I would be thinking about most would be why does he have to die right now, right in front of me? Physically, I would be hurt, but I would not pay attention to it at the time. I have cuts, bruises, and burns. Mentally, I feel devastated, helpless, confused, and upset. I feel like I am responsible for Rob's death, becuase I was the one driving. Tomorrow will be even worse than today. I will be realizing what really had happened, and I will not be in shock anymore, so all the thoughts will be coming in clearer.

2. When you hear or read of a car accident that involved teenagers, what do you tend to assume was the cause of the accident? What about if you hear about an accident involving the elderly? Explain your answers. When I hear or read about a car accident that involved teenagers, I tend to assume alcohol was the cause of the accident. Most of the cases, that is the cause. Another thing I assume the cause could be is speeding. Sometimes, when kids drive, they tend to caught up in how loud the music is, and how cool they want their friends to think they are, and they don't pay attention to what is going on around them. If I hear about an accident involving the elderly, I tend to assume it involved health issues, such as heart attacks, strokes, anurisms, or they just fainted.

3. Andy and Rob have their own slang and manner of speaking. On the surface they seem to be putting each other down, but it is clear to us that they are close friends who respect each other. What purpose does this style of language serve? Does it draw you closer together? Does it set you off from others? Explain. To me, the purpose of this style of language serves alot of purposes. It proves that best friends can say anything to eachother, and will not take it to offense. It is like sarcasm, and the friends know the person is joking around. I think it draws best friends closer together. Although, if friends aren't as close, talking like that might offend them, so it might pull them apart. My best friend and I talk as if we are putting eachother down. I don't talk like that with my regular friends though. Some people take offense to different things, and I wouldn't want to risk a friendship over it.

4. In a paragraph rich with sensory detail, write about your own most frightening moment. My most frightening moment happened when I was in third grade. It was on March 7, 2006. My pap was really sick with lung cancer. It was the last day he lived on this Earth. The hospice sent a hospital bed to our house with all of his oxygen tanks, and other medical stuff he needed. He had always told us he wanted to die in his own house, not with people he didn't know surrounding him. My aunt Sharon stayed the night at our house, because she knew he was going to pass soon. He died around 7 in the morning. When I woke up, it was about 9:30am, and I knew something was wrong. I should have been at school. I walked downstairs to find people from the hospital and an ambulance in front of our house. My aunt and grandma were standing on the porch crying. I was only eight, so I didn't understand that when people die, they are gone forever. I walked onto the porch to ask what happened, and Nicole told me he had died that morning. I thought she meant he had went to the hospital. I told my grandma everything would be okay, and he would be home in a few days. She then went on to explain to me when people die, they are gona forever. That was the day I witnessed my most frightening moment.

5. Although many people did cry, Rhonda did not cry after the accident occured; she was angry. When or if a public tragedy occurs and it is not someone in your immediate family (9/11/01), how do you respond? Explain.

6. One //Herald// editorial says that statistics don't usually "mean much, but this statistic (Rob) had a name, face,..." Do you agree that it is hard to feel emotional about the statistics when you do not have a face to relate them to?

7. In his homework assigment, Gerald writes that he would rid the world of 3 things. What 3 things would you rid the world of? Stick to concrete items, and back up your choices with personal reasons why you are eliminating them. If I would rid the world of 3 things, i would choose bugs, shoes, and wood pencils. I would get rid of bugs because I am literally disgusted with bugs, especially stink bugs. They would be the first I would get rid of. All bugs are ugly, and most of them bite. They do not serve a purpose on this Earth, so I don't like them. I hate shoes. I think they are uncomfortable, and I do not like wearing them. I wish we could never have to wear shoes again. I would come to school everyday in socks if I had the choice. Finally, I would get rid of wooden pencils. The lead makes my writing look terrible. I write small, so it looks like a jumbled up mess. Also, the wood shavings get all over my fingers, and the lead turns my fingers black. That is why I would rid the world of shoes, bugs, and wood pencils.

8. Neither of Andy's parents bother to show up for the game. How important is it for you that your parents turn out for the events in which you participate? Explain. It is very important to me that my parents turn out for the events in which I participate. When I see them in the stands, it give me a sense of confidence, pride, and a feeling that I would not trade for anything. It makes me feel important and appreciated to see them there for me. I feel invincible, because I know there is someone there watching me. When my parents do not come to one of my events, I feel upset and usually do not try my hardest. Andy tries as hard as he can even though his parents do not come. It is most likely because he is used to his parents not showing up.

9. In Rob's absence, Andy becomes the star of the basketball team. Write about a time when your talents were overshadowed by a friend or a sibling. How did it make you feel? Did you wish that something would happen that would give you a chance to shine? Elaborate

10. Andy mentions that some kids at school haven't looked him in the face since the acident;one even taped a mean note to is locker. How would you treat Andy now? Elaborate. I would treat Andy with care and concern. I would not be like the kids that haven't looked him in the face, or tape a mean note to his locker. If Andy and I were not close friends, I would approach him and tell him that even though we do not usually talk, I will still be here for him and willing to talk to him about things. I will also assure him that he will always have me as a friend. Andy was drinking and driving that night, but he couldn't control what fate had in store for Rob. It really isn't Andy's fault.

11.Does doing homework help you to perform better on tests? Does homework seem purposeful to you, or is it basically a waste of time? What alternate do you suggest? Defend your answer.

12. Do you feel that your parents 'get' you or don't understand you at all? What makes you think this? Explain.

13. Andy believes that his friends would talk about him if he won academic awards, and then consider Marcus's unpopularity due to his achievement. Is academic failure or apathy built into teenager's notions about what is 'cool'? What effect does academic achievement have on you?

14. We learn about Andy's grades and study habits. Do you think the guidance counselor who advised him against pre-law was being realistic or unfair? Defend your answer. I think the guidance counselor who advised Andy against pre-law was being unfair. If pre-law interests Andy, then he should have a good career with it. He will like to study about it, and will learn more because he is accually paying attention. Everyone is interested in different subjects, and some people think cartain subjects are harder than other ones. If Andy's grades are low in high school, it does not affect his college career that much. It only makes a difference in which college he will be studying at. He will learn everything he needs to know about pre-law during his college years.

15. In a class discussion, Keisha says, "All of us at one time or another feel like a "cinder among snowflakes. You stand out when you want to blend in. You get noticed whether you want to or not." In a paragraph, write about a time when you have felt like a "cinder among the snowflakes".

16. Andy envisions that Monty will have a future as a lawyer or a doctor. But when he thinks of his own future, he sees a blank or darkness. Can you picture who you will be in 15 years? What do you envision for your future? In 15 years, I picture myself working in the criminal justice feild, or pre-law. I want to be an attorney, or a crime scene investigator. I have always been interested in this. I would like to be an attorney because I like to debate. I always win when I fight for things, and i always make my point better than the person I am arguing with. I think it would be a good career for me. I watch alot of Law and Order, CSI, NCIS, and Criminal Minds. I would like to be a crime scene investigator because I know alot about the criminal justice field. My older sister, Nicole, is also studing criminal justice, so it will be easier for me to learn about things.