TTKierstyn

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 one of the boys who escaped the crash and was forced to was helplessly as Rob died, I would have been terrified. There would be many things going through my head at that time. One of the things going through my head would be how sorry I am and how much I want to save him and spare his family, friends and myself of his tragic death. I would feel physically hurt, since I was losing one of my bestfriends. Also my emotional state would be changed, since I have to live with the fact that I made it out alive with minor injuries and Rob had to die helplessly. I think that tomorrow I will feel even worse that i do today, everything will be real and I have to live with it for the rest of my live.

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 about an accident involving teenagers, I think of drugs, alcohol, or cell phones. Those are things that a lot of teenagers do while driving. When I hear of an accident involving the elderly, I think of delayed reactions. A lot of elderly people have bad eyesight, hearing and delayed reactions. That is what I think of when i hear of an accident involving teenagers and the elderly.

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.

I think that this type of slang can draw friends closer together. This style of language serves the purpose of letting everyone know they are very close friends and they can understand and relate to each other. No one else can really tell what they are talking about, but Andy and Rob know exactly what they mean. The manner of speach they choose to talk in can set them off from others, but it can also help them figure out who their close friends are and how they understand each other.

4. In a paragraph rich with sensory detail, write about your own 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.

When a public tragedy occurs, even if it does not involve my family, I am still sad and upset. Even though it was not my family, that person still had family and friends that cared about him or her. There are still people out there that loved them and are going to be terrified and saddened when they find out that their loved one has been killed. That is how I feel when a public tragedy occurs.

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?

Yes, I agree that it is hard to feel emotional about the statistics when you don't have a face to relate them to. If you have a face to put to the statistics then it is easier to be emotional. Some people have never had an accident occur in their family where statistics were against the odds of something happening, so it is hard for them to be emotional about it. On the other hand some people have been through accidents where statistics were involved.

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 could rid the world of three things they would be shoes, spiders, and carrots. First i would rid the world of shoes. I don't like to wear shoes and I think that people should be able to walk around in thier socks on barefooted. Even when I was little I hated to wear shoes. I love to walk aroung in my socks. Second I would rid the world of spiders. I am terrified of spiders, I think they are gross and ugly. I don't see why there is a reason for them, I wish they would go away forever and never come back. Lastly I would get find of carrots. I don't like the way they taste. They are usless and I would rid the world of them. That is what i would rid the world of if I could.

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 come to the events in which I participate in. My parents come to every game that they are able to make it to. I think that having people there that love you to cheer you on can help you with your confidence. That is why it is important to me that my parents come to everything that they can.

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 try to treat him like a person, he made a horrible mistake and he will have to live with it for the rest of his life. That doesn't mean we have to tape mean notes to his locker, but we also shouldn't treat him like a hero. He made a mistake but we all make them, his just happened to kill someone. Everyone messes up but they don't get into trouble, because no one died or was injuried do to their mistake. Also he should be punished, he was drinking and driving and everyone should know better than to do that. That is how I would treat Andy after the accident.

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.

I think that homework can be purposeful. It can help you perform better on tests. Homework should not be given every night, but once in a while would be okay. If you give students homework every night then you will tire them out. Most students do not want to spend all of their time doing homework, when they could be hanging out with friends. Therefor they would probably either do a sloppy job on it or not do it at all. That is why I think homework can be helpful, but it shouldn't be given every night.

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

I feel that my parents sometimes understand me, but also sometimes they have no idea what I am going through. They understand me sometimes, because theymay have went through it when they were kids. Also I think they sometimes don't understand, because times have changed and different things are happening now.

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 that the guidance counselor was being realistic and unfair at the same time. He could have told Andy that his study habits and grades would have to have a drastic change for him to study pre-law. Maybe if Andy knew that he wasn't going to be able to persue his dream then he would change.Also the guidance counselor was being realistic, because looking at Andy's grades and study habits he would never make it in college. That is why I think he was being realistic and unfair to Andy at the same time.

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?

I like to think that I will be able to picture myself in 15 years. I want to go to college and get a job as a neonatal surgeon or a lawyer. When I graduate college I will start my job. Then once I am atleast 2 to 3 years into my work I want to get married and have children.I like to set high standards for myself and not make any big mistakes that con ruin my dream. That is where I picture myself in 15 years.