Mrs. Ho's 10th Grade AP Lang 2022-2023

       I was sitting in Lang class on an average Monday morning, contemplating what I should write my blog post about. The more topics I considered, the faster my options depleted, finding myself stuck in a dreaded stage for any writer: writer's block. I listened to the exclaimed ideas of my peers, hoping it would conjure up some inspiration for myself. One of my classmates reminded us that our post does not have to necessarily be a narrative of philosophical deductions or answers to the world’s most pondered questions, but rather something simple and, well, unimportant. A quality blog post is not about the topic itself, but what you can make of the topic. This is why I have decided to blog about my experience making and trying deviled eggs for the first time.        I first began by hard boiling the eggs and then cutting the cooked eggs in half and removing the yolk. Next, it was time to assemble the filling. If you were like me about five m...

       Throughout my life, I have never been able to maintain an interest in something for more than a short period of time. I would always become fixated on something, then that thing would lose significance to me. For as long as I can remember, the only thing that I have been able to stay interested in is music.       My first memory of ever being obsessed with a song was probably when I was around 3-4 years old. I would beg my mom to put on the song “Enter Sandman” by Metallica every time we were in the car. I probably knew all of the words to that song by the time I was 5-6. Since around that time, I have always had a passion for the musical arts. I was raised surrounded by music, and now it has become one of the largest parts of my life.      Over the years, I have been able to gain an even deeper connection to music. I started to realize that it was not just sounds, but a way for emotions to be expressed in the most divine for...

     This weekend was the Shabbaton, and I was very excited to go on this trip. Unfortunately, I had a conflict. I was unable to attend the Shabbaton due to my commitment to dance. Before the Shabbaton had an official date, I had already been placed in a dance that had a rehearsal that weekend. This was a hard choice to come to terms with because I always feel like I have to choose dance over other experiences. I take my commitments very seriously.  I think this is why I have a hard time choosing between school and dance. Both are big commitments to me. I understand that I already agreed to go to choreography this weekend, but sometimes all I want to do is be a normal kid like everyone else. The Shabbaton is just one example of a time when I had to choose dance over something else. Even though I have felt this way multiple times I knew that I wasn't the only person feeling like this since my teammates have had to make similar sacrifices in their own personal lives as...

My favorite restaurant is Nusr-Et Steakhouse in Miami. Nusr-Et was started by Salt Bae, a Turkish chef and food entertainer, whose pictures are all over the restaurant. The name of the restaurant comes from his own name "Et", which means "meat" in Turkish. Nusr-Et combined steaks with a Turkish style of preparation. The food is served family style which makes eating there fun for social events. My favorite food there is the Lokum which is a thinly sliced steak that is so tender you can cut it with your fork. On one of our recent trips we ordered plates and plates of Lokum, and my cousin Ben ate at least eight of them. There are also great appetizers such as salmon tartare, meatballs, and salads. Some of the dishes like the steak tartare are served in a very exotic way, with dry ice smoke and the waiters making a big production of preparing the food in front of you. We asked one of the waitresses how long she had to train to prepare the Baklava dessert at the table, ...

                              Why I think Disney World is Superior to Universal Studios      Being born and raised in Florida, I have grown up going on annual road trips to Disney World with my family. I have always loved the rides in Magic Kingdom and the World Showcase in Epcot. Something about the quaint and cohesive nature of Disney World has always been more appealing to me than any other amusement park; especially universal.       After our recent school trip to Universal, I can confidently say that there is definitely a bigger interest in Universal amongst teenagers my age. Prior to the school trip, a poll went out asking students if they prefer Magic Kingdom (in Disney World) or Islands of Adventure (in Universal), and the results showed that Islands of Adventure won by a landslide.  In a “Universal or Disney for Teenagers” topic on TripAdvisor, a Mom...

       There is definitely controversy surrounding the question whether pancakes are better than waffles or vice versa. While both pancakes and waffles have very similar batters because of their basic ingredients, there is no way to convince me that a chewy, indigestible waffle is better than a fluffy, delicate pancake. However, this breakfast debate becomes more difficult when considering detailed factors of each delicacy. Waffles have the incredible ability to be delicious as a sweet meal made with various delicious toppings or even be created into a savory meal, as the famous chicken and waffle sandwich. Although to be completely honest, I personally don't find that sandwich appealing. However, crepes, in the pancake family, can also be filled with a variety of delicious toppings and fillings like nutella and strawberries. Waffles are not the only sweet breakfast that can be made savory. Crepes are often times made into a savory meal with cheese, spinach, and ...

 It is commonly said that fine art is not worth the hefty price tag that usually comes with it. Often times, paintings and sculptures seem worthless to the average person. For example, if you see a Jackson Pollock painting for the first time, you may assume that it is a worthless collection of squiggly lines. However, what you may not know is that his most expensive painting sold for $140 million in 2006. This begs the question, are these art pieces really worth the big bucks?     According to Vox, most art isn't actually expensive at all. The website does acknowledge that there are very wealthy, famous, and influential artists, in the world, but it states that "most [artists] are not and never will be." It is suggested that most art isn't the art sold at an auction house, but rather sold direct to consumer from the artists themselves. It is undeniable, however, that there is quite a large number next to some art pieces. Why?     Some people believe it...

     In any classroom, you can see students bouncing their legs up and down. In fact, right now, there are five people I can see bouncing/shaking their legs/feet while in class. I, too, have fallen victim to this. But what does it mean? Why do we do it? According to metro.co.uk , “Counselling Directory member Dawn Templeton says that leg tapping is caused by 'a buildup of surplus stress hormones in the body, namely adrenaline and cortisol'”. She explains that it is a response to being anxious or stressed. On another hand, Kenny Weiss, founder of the Greatness University, thinks that it is a response to trauma and that people let it out by bouncing their legs. It can be a way to soothe tension and help you feel relaxed. Michael Durtnall of Sayer Clinics London says you can be more prone to leg bouncing if you’re just a high-energy person. Santhosh A. Thomas, a doctor at the Center of Spine Cleveland Clinic thinks that if you only bounce one leg, that leg might have mor...

     Community is one of the most important things that one may look for in a school. Community is the best thing that Donna Klein Jewish Academy has to offer. This past weekend we were able to come together as one and have the most incredible experience. From sitting all together at dinner or swimming all together at the pool, we experienced the comfort of a community at all times. Donna Klein Jewish Academy’s faculty and staff made sure that we all felt comfortable and happy at every point in the weekend. Ms. Delbo spent hours upon hours to make this experience the best we've ever had. The games and activities were planned out perfectly, and the mixing of grades made sure that everyone got to know each other on a closer level. We became so close with one another and were able to hang out not just with our friends, but with our teachers, faculty, and students in different grades than us. When we got to Islands of Adventure, you could see teachers walking around with stud...

     On my way home from the Shabbaton last night, we decided to take the turnpike home. If we left 15 seconds earlier, I might have been seriously injured. A massive car accident occurred right in front of my mother, my brother, and me. 3 cars were stopped directly in front of exit 81, including 1 car that had crashed head-first into the outside wall. The car almost went into the exit. Our car had to slow to a crawl to avoid all the debris that was spread out. Many tiny car pieces were everywhere, including the entire hood of a car and someone’s license plate. There was even an entire rug rolled up on the floor, which still baffles me how it even ended up there. It made me wonder why drivers in Florida are so awful compared to other states.  The number of car accidents and fatalities from accidents is disproportionately higher in Florida than in the USA. Florida drivers are commonly considered the worst in the world, which makes me concerned about driving myself. I’...

As AP students, we all know the pressure school can put on us. Starting in the later days of elementary school when academic levels arised and homework and assessments became more frequent, that’s when the drain caused by school started. Then when we hit middle school, we came to learn about school stress. Tons of homework, essays, tests, projects, and more started to pile up. During 7th grade, though, Covid hit and life became easier, so when high school rolled around, we didn’t know what was coming. For the past year, we’ve been facing pressure and stress like never before, even me, and trust me, I know anxiety. Yet, while we all tend to discuss the pressure school puts on us, we never really acknowledge the pressure school causes us to put on ourselves. The pressure that stems from academic validation.  Starting in 3rd grade, at least here at Donna Klein, math levels emerged. Us eight-year-olds were placed in different math classes based on our capabilities. As someone who w...

     “Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat” is an elegant and astounding motion picture about how two siblings bond and learn to accept their differences. This movie teaches us that you should never overwork yourself, and sometimes, it is acceptable to have a little excitement in your life. I first watched this movie and was astonished at the amazing quality and hilarious comedy that was inserted for the adults.       When you watch “Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat” for the first time, you may have a different reaction than I did, and there is a valid reason for that. In modern society, children and adults take offense to much more than they did in my day. Amy Hill, who played Mrs. Kwan in “Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat”, said “He [Mike Myers] had his handlers dress his trailer, and his area was all covered with tenting because he didn’t want anybody seeing him. It was so weird. It was just the worst. It was like I was there forever, and my daughter was 2 and a...

     Ever since my brother, Jacob, started high school, people had asked how I was feeling about him moving out within the next few years. I would always respond by explaining how happy I would be without him in the house. Why wouldn’t I want the person I had argued with 24/7 to move out? I was convinced that everything would be better without him, but I couldn't have been more wrong.      Over the course of last year (his senior year and my freshman year), Jacob and I started to become obligated to do certain things together. This included small things like driving to school, doing chores, etc. This became part of my daily routine, and I had never expected losing it to have the effect on me that it ended up having.      At first, it was only the small things that seemed different. Things as small as taking a picture together on the first day of school, as we had done every year for the past ten years. Then I started to notice other things, s...

     This past Sunday was the start of the NFL season. As a big Steelers fan, I was excited for the week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, a division rival and Super Bowl runner-ups from the previous season. The game was exciting, with both teams having multiple chances to win the game before the Steelers kicked a field goal as overtime ran out to win it all. It was extremely exciting to watch. Earlier that day, there was a Formula One race in Monza. It was an enthralling race that ended under the safety car when Daniel Ricciardo retired with mechanical issues. I enjoyed it just as much as the football game later that day. I also watched the Yankees game, which had 4 home runs in one inning as the Yankees torched the Rays. All of these sporting events were an absolute blast. We know what made these events fun compared to other sporting events, but what makes sports fun?      I think there are three main reasons. The first reason is the competition ...

     Are Television Advertisements Really Worth it? Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent every year on slots to advertise products, stores, websites, and more. For an ad that runs for half a minute, companies are paying more than most people will make in their lifetime. Does this really serve a purpose?          A thirty second ad in the Super Bowl costs $6.5 million. That's more than the cost of an entire M1 Abrams tank used by the United States Armed Forces. Why do they spend this much? The thought is that the sheer amount of people watching the Super Bowl justifies the incredible cost of a commercial. Is this accurate? According to Temple University, it definitely is. The university concludes that running ads during the big game is an excellent way to almost guarantee traffic from consumers. This got me thinking, however, it may be worth it to spend an exorbitant amount for the biggest television event of...

  It’s official, my parents have received an NIE number that will now allow us to buy property in Spain. A decision that was set in stone so fast, that I haven’t even acknowledged what this purchase entails in a broader sense. The new construction awaiting my family in Spain will undoubtedly be the close to the final chapter of my childhood. This claim may sound extreme, but Massachusettes is a preservation my childhood. This is not only a new summer home, but an illustration of a new chapter in my life.  As some of you may already know, I moved from Massachusetts. After 8 years of growing up in Wellesley, my experiences there have certainly shaped who I am today. I am so incredibly lucky to have been able to meet the most amazing people who supported me relentlessly through thick and thin, granting me years worth of cherished memories that I will never forget and will relish forever. Just last year, we made the momentous decision to move to Florida, saying goodbye to my life ...

    I often find myself spending excessive time on social media. Whether it's looking at Instagram posts, scrolling through TikTok, or socializing on Snapchat, it's obvious that it's about time to put my phone down and do something productive. This led me to question if social media affects our mental health as much as it takes away from our participation in other activities that don't include a phone.  Posting a picture on Instagram and/or another platform of social media often has another side to it. Aside from viewing the positive comments and receiving a confidence-boost, people also tend to dwell on unnecessary worries regarding their post. Perhaps stressing about if someone else got more likes than you, a certain someone didn't like your post, or if a certain someone did. Suddenly validation on the internet serves as a replacement for simply trying to post a picture of what you're doing. This isn't the only time when social media posts come into play. ...

  As teenagers, sometimes we overlook the importance of sleep. Whether we're staying out late with our friends or staying up to cram for a big test the next day, the amount of sleep we get is never our main priority. There is always something we prioritize over sleep, because in our day-to-day life we don't realize what a lack of sleep can do to our physical and mental health. As someone who has struggled with mental health issues, I can say that the more I sleep and the more rest I get, the better my mental health is. When we are asleep it gives us the chance to escape from ‘reality’ and get the break that we need. Whenever we don't get enough sleep, it can lead to increased stress, a decreased appetite, a shift in moods, and in the worst cases could lead to a panic attack. Sleep helps maintain cognitive skills, such as attention, learning, and memory. A lack of sleep can greatly affect your performance in school, causing you to lose focus, have a decreased attention span,...

           Captiva Island, a small island off Florida's Gulf Coast, has been a second home to my family for the past twelve years. The island is notorious for its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. As I've grown up, I have stayed on the island every summer with my family. We have all experienced many firsts in Captiva; swimming with wild dolphins, learning how to jetski, admiring the kind nature of wild manatees, and seeing some of the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises imaginable.      What I find especially remarkable about Captiva (aside from the abundance of dolphins and sunsets) is the nonchalant and friendly nature of the people living on the island or its neighboring island, Sanibel. I don't know if it has to do with the beautiful beaches or clear weather that puts the people on the West Coast in such a good mood, but to this day, I have not had any bad interactions with anyone on the island. Even when my family stops at ...

       I have always had a connection with New York. Both of my parents were born and raised New Yorkers and most of my extended family still lives there. Since my parents were New Yorkers, I have been traveling there very frequently from a young age. For as long as I can remember I have had the opportunity to experience things that are uniquely New York. When I first arrive in the city I immediately recognize the sound surrounding me. Some people find this city noise a nuisance, but I find it comforting. From the trains to the traffic and the people all put together creates such a distinct noise that can’t be duplicated anywhere else.  Oddly enough although I am anything but an outdoors type of person, being in the city makes me want to spend most of my time walking outside. When I'm in New York walking doesn't seem like a chore. No matter which way you walk there is always something to see or do. New York has so much to offer in such a small space that walki...

       There is a lot of discussion and controversy based around extra time for tests. In order to be eligible for extra time, you must go through an expensive, tedious process. All of the necessary assessments and other parts of the process to receive extra time can cost thousands of dollars. Students are given extra time because of anxiety, ADHD, Dyslexia, and many other reasons that put students at a disadvantage which will affect the outcome of their tests in the given, allotted time. However, the majority of the students in all my classes have extra time on tests and it puts students like me, who don't have the accommodations, at a big disadvantage. It's beginning to seem like extra time is something you can simply buy if your parents are willing to pay for it even to those who don't need it at all. How easily can these assessments even differentiate students who get anxious from students who have anxiety that could really affect them on a test? After speaking t...

     Many children growing up in this day and age are aware of the hit television show, PAW Patrol . PAW Patrol  is a show created in 2013 by Ronnen Harary for Nickelodeon and the main demographic is children of ages two to four. Because of this, many teenagers or adults would assume that it is merely a baby show that is unentertaining, but that is the farthest thing from the truth. As reviewer Rachel Duncan put it, "PAW Patrol is the best kodomomuke anime I have ever seen ... While the Japanese version is good, the English dub is better and is not like any other anime English dub!" The list of pups who are a part of the PAW Patrol consists of Marshall, Rubble, Chase, Rocky, Zuma, and Sky. Each of these characters has their own attributes that make them great, but no one is as great as Chase.     Chase is a mature and brilliant pup, who is more caring than any dog you have met. He takes his job seriously, and never fails to save the day. Unlike other pups, ...

     When most people think about football, they visualize a bunch of meatheads tackling each other and throwing around an oddly shaped ball. Even devoted football fans never think of football as more than a sport for mere entertainment purposes and enjoyment. Growing up, this was the same misconception that I fell for. This past weekend though, my family went up to Gainesville for our yearly Florida Gator football game, and something resonated with me that had never before. As over 90,000 people who had never met each other sat in the stadium watching the game in suspense, laughing and talking game with each other, I came to realize that fan bases for football, and all sports in general, help bring us as humans together.   In my opinion, Gainesville has always been a friendly environment. I might have encountered some drunk frat brothers in my time there, but no one has ever been anything except nice to my family and me. I’ve come to realize that it’s because...

   With 9/11 approaching tomorrow, I was reminded of a meaningful experience from last year that I did in honor of 9/11. Last year was the 20th anniversary of 9/11, and I saw online that people were doing a challenge using the Stairmaster machine in their gym to climb 110 flights of stairs in honor of the 415 emergency workers in New York City who passed away, 343 of which were firefighters. My parents were both in New York City during this time, and it significantly impacted them. After seeing this online challenge, I was inspired to ask my mom to do it with me. She said yes and was so happy to be doing this for a good cause.  Starting this challenge, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it; I just knew that I would try my hardest, and that was all that mattered to me. Most of the people I saw doing this were people who went to the gym every day or were bodybuilders or added 70 extra pounds of gear to help further put themselves in the heroes’ shoes. I knew this would ...