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

     The question of whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich has been a widely controversial topic that has been circulating the internet for almost a decade. Just about every argument has been made about the topic, and the dispute has led to many answers that are rarely agreed upon by the hot dog enthusiasts of the world. Some people are convinced that it is a taco, while others come to the conclusion that it is a roll or a hoagie, but the conversation is no closer to resolution than when it started.       When the definition of a hot dog is searched, the immediate definition given is “a frankfurter, especially one served hot in a long, soft roll and topped with various condiments'', but this definition is so specific that it could lead people to believe that a hot dog requires a roll and condiments; however, after checking a different definition, the definition is simply “ a frankfurter ”, referring specifically to the meat on the inside of the roll. ...

     The Prince and Princess of Wales are visiting Boston this week, making it the first time they are in the U.S. in eight years. This reminded me of Princess Diana, who became the princess in 1981 and left an influential legacy. Princess Diana of Wales died on August 31, 1997, as a result of a car “accident”. To understand why conspiracy theorists, to this day,  might think this was not an accident, we have to rewind to her initial emergence in the Royal family.       Diana met Charles when she was just 16. He was 29. They got engaged when she was 19. Married at 20. I think the almost 13-year age gap is the first factor to consider about this relationship. Princess Diana suffered from post-partum depression, suicidal thoughts, and an eating disorder. Prince Charles thought she was faking her problems. He also commented on her weight which just reinforced her already horrific eating disorder that had to be kept a secret from the public world. The...

 Thanksgiving is most definitely my favorite holiday. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved Thanksgiving. But for the longest time, I could not come up with a single reason why. I guess I was too young to understand what was truly special about this holiday. But throughout the years I have been able to come up with why I believe Thanksgiving is the most underrated holiday. After Halloween people automatically skip over thanksgiving and immediately begin to think about the holidays in December. They look over what a special holiday Thanksgiving can be. I do not love this holiday due to the reason we have it but I love it for what it has become over the years. Every year my family and I spend thanksgiving in new york. I have multiple family members living there so we are still able to have a home-cooked meal. During Covid when we could not travel I was devastated that I would not be able to spend Thanksgiving with my family in New York. To me, Thanksgiving is an opportu...

       It really just hit me, like a ball to the face, that my 10th blog post was going to mark the end of our first semester of blog posts, and additionally, all of our blog posts for 2022. Therefore, I decided it was very important I go out with a bang, so to speak. I began to sit there and brainstorm ideas, whether or not I should write a typical review/informational blog post or the ones I usually do when I go on emotional rants. Eventually, I came up with the idea that I should write almost like a recollection of all my blog posts for the year, providing me with an opportunity to reflect on how I felt about the topics I’ve written on, how I think my writing has improved, did my emotional state at the time affect my blog posts, and so on. I came to figure, though, that maybe this idea should be my final blog post for Sophomore year in general so stay tuned. I went on to call a friend to help me come up with blog post ideas when the perfect topic finally came to m...

  From the age of 7, the word “family” has completely shifted its meaning in my mind. This summer will be my 10th and last at my favorite place in the world, a place in which I truly consider my second home, Camp Modin. It's difficult for me to reflect on the 9 most amazing summers here. Camp has made me grow individually and especially with my brothers and sisters in my bunk and equivalence. Its bittersweet that this is my last summer. I can't imagine not returning to camp next year and truthfully I dont think it will fully hit me until the last day of camp. It's impossible for me to see the reality that I’ll never be at this magical place with all my brothers and sisters enjoying our time being campers without a care in the world. Camp is a place where I feel most at home and not judged. I live with my best friends 24/7 and constantly enjoy even the simplest things. It's the one place where all my “real world” problems disappear.  I'm so beyond excited to return f...

As many of you may know, two days ago, two young boys in our community were critically injured in a horrible car accident involving a collision with trees on Montoya Circle. This accident has left our community in shambles as the boys begin their slow recovery process. As Jewish communities in Boca Raton grieve over this accident, we are reminded of the importance of driver safety. The accident, occurring just a couple days after thanksgiving, has reminded me of the things I should be grateful for and the unpredictability of life.  I happened to know both of the boys injured in the accident personally and attended school with them from first grade until eighth grade. Many of my friends still attend school with them, and I can’t begin to imagine what it must feel like to lose the presence of someone they are used to being with every day. Currently, both boys are hospitalized and one is in the intensive care unit, suffering penetrating injuries, lacerations, and significant facial tr...

  As I sit on my couch, watching Iran vs. USA in the World Cup, I am still indecisive about which team I should root for. My cousins and I are all closely monitoring this game, as we have many roots from the opposite side. Yes, we were born and raised in the USA; however, we trace our ties back to Iran.      As the first goal went in for the USA, I did not feel national support but disappointment in Iran. Although I am supportive of my country, I still feel an intrinsic sense of pride towards my Persian roots. My grandfather, who lives in Washington, D.C. today, is eagerly awaiting for the result of the game as he grew up in Iran and even participated in the Iranian army under the Shah.  Acknowledging that my feeling for this game ties back to my middle-eastern heritage, I recognize that this all comes from interfaith marriage. My grandmother, an Orthodox Jew from Poland, met my grandfather, a Muslim from Iran, when they both immigrated to America. The contr...

     There are numerous stigmas surrounding the youngest child, especially the youngest daughter, some including that they are spoiled, stubborn, and less intelligent than their older siblings. In some cases, that may be true. However, in my case, that is only partially correct. My older sisters always say, "I have it way easier than they did," and I completely understand that my parents gave me much more leeway and gave me a lot more than what they had given my older sisters. Since I have it "way easier" than they did, and don't get me wrong, in most ways I do, I have always tried to prove to them that I was just as good. In school, I always tried my hardest. Especially having my teachers know them already, and they set the standards abnormally high, making me want to 'beat' them even more.      When my oldest sister, Gabby, left for college, the house suddenly became quiet. Even though I had my other sister and, of course, my parents, it just di...

     As I recall at the beginning of this blog project, I dedicated my very first blog to the endeavor of my Jewish identity since moving to Florida. Well, it has officially been three months since, and my relationship with Judaism has flourished immensely in ways that have transpired into the forefront of my identity. A multitude of events in these past three months have not only enriched my internal moral philosophy but have set the standard for the person I aspire to be. These newly acquired central principles define who I am today in adherence to the fundamentals of Jewish integrity.       My faith in G-d has gradually heightened with every experience-some experiences significant, and some just merely a part of my everyday routine that all harmonize to foster a prideful symphony of religious faith. It’s easy to be deceived by the triumphs of life without the battles with injustice and frustration, for you must ask yourself the question that humanit...

      We all remember being little and drawing with crayons. It's a staple in a young kid's life. Everyone has probably used a crayon at least once in their life, without even thinking about it. The reason kid's use crayons are because they're colorful, easy to hold, and last pretty long. Little did anyone realise, crayons are a great drawing tool that can be used for varying purposes, including, but not limited to: a nice texture and roughness, vibrant colors, and thick strokes.      Giving kids crayons at an early age can benefit a child's artistic ability by teaching them about pressure. When drawing or coloring, the opacity of the stroke will be lighter or darker depending on how hard you press on the paper. If you press down harder, you will see darker, thicker strokes. By pressing down lightly, you will get thin, light strokes. The benefit to learning to draw at a you age is that it can creatively influence a child's perspective, and have them see thi...

    It is well-known that insurance companies have very famous mascots. I assume the reason is because insurance seems boring to many people, so including a funny, memorable mascot is seen as a good way to make it more interesting. However, as mascots get more and more famous, it only begs one question: who is the best one. Although there are numerous famous insurance mascots, I will be focusing on three: the GEICO Gecko, Flo, and Jake from State Farm.     The GEICO Gecko is arguably the most famous insurance mascot. Introduced in 1999, the computer generated reptilian has appeared in over 150 commercials. Not even an inch height, this Godzilla of a mascot has been a titan in the industry for over two decades. The pros for this mascot are that he's very funny, very unique, and has a cockney accent. The biggest con is that he isn't a real person. It is probably very hard for a person to relate to a lizard.     The second mascot I will be discussing is F...

     One of my all-time favorite things to do is watch movies. Unlike shows, movies tend to have an intriguing plot that happens within a quicker time span, which is why I favor them over television shows. Recently, I was discussing this topic with one of my classmates. We were bringing up the various genres and our personal favorites among each of them. When I said that I enjoyed thrillers, especially psychological horrors, he suggested that I watch the Silence of the Lambs .       As someone who is particularly biased toward this genre of movie, the entire duration of this movie kept me on the edge of my seat. The movie starts off with an introduction to the main character, Clarice. Clarice is nothing but a trainee, which is what makes this character so interesting to watch. The fact that she is not a professional FBI agent makes it all the more interesting, as we get to see her as she is put in scenes that genuinely require her to make hard decisio...

Although I have the utmost respect for holidays like Hanukkah, July 4th, Purim, New Years, and Sukkot, Thanksgiving has to be the most underrated of all the holidays. I’m not saying that it is my favorite holiday, but all the other ones are either perfectly rated or overrated, while Thanksgiving is often ignored and forgotten. However, I love Thanksgiving, and if I had to rank all the holidays, it would definitely be ahead of ones like Sukkot and Shavuot. Thanksgiving brings families together without the pressure of having to buy gifts for someone, choose a costume, or commit yourself to tiring rituals. You simply get to have time off of school, reflect on what you’re grateful for, watch football, play football, and share amazing memories with family that you get to reunite and share an amazing meal with. Thanksgiving has to have one of the most amazing food groups of all holidays, and I will stand by that. If you claim that you hate Thanksgiving food, you might need to try some new re...

  Similarly to many other people, as a child, I went through phases where I enjoyed different hobbies and my passions often changed. However, after my musician, basketball, then dance phase, I found myself falling in love with something completely new, baking. This time, I felt that it wasn't just a phase because it was truly something that brought me happiness and relieved any stress or concerns. While my mom often baked simple things like brownies and cookies, and my grandmother enjoyed baking family recipes, my family didn’t have much of a background in culinary arts. I initially discovered my love for baking when watching shows such as Kids Baking Championship and Cake Wars. I was intrigued by the desserts that both looked delicious and had beautiful presentations. As my passion for baking grew, I began to bake all the time. I was in middle school therefore, looking back at my schedule, it was constantly empty, almost always leaving me time to test new recipes. My family loved ...

     On the car ride home today, we were talking about my sister’s upcoming Bat Mitzvah, which is happening this Saturday. I know her service has been in the works for months on end, but I still find it surprising to think about her as a 12-year-old 7th grader. I remember when she was first born, with this memory being one of the earliest I can recall. I was so excited to be a big sister, especially since I was getting a younger sister, essentially a mini-me. She was the cutest and chubbiest toddler to walk planet earth, and most importantly, one who looked up to me. She found everything I did funny and followed me around like it was her job. We did everything together, and due to her young age, pretty much everything we did was something I wanted to do and she was just there to tag along. After all, she idolized me. When we were younger we got along spectacularly, almost never arguing at all. Eventually, though, Rylee started to grow and become more independent. If I w...

Every year, dancers in North Carolina celebrate the beginning of the holiday season by participating in an extravagant parade in downtown Raleigh. Last Saturday, November 19th, this normally joyous event was the site of a horrific tragedy when an 11 year old dancer was struck and killed by a runaway vehicle. The vehicle involved in the accident was participating in the parade by pulling the display floats from the CC & Company and Dance Complex and carrying the youngest dancers who attend that studio through the parade. A major event like this relies on numerous dedicated volunteers to create a spectacular event, and unfortunately an accident caused by one of them resulted in this tragedy. This terrifying event hits close to home for me. For a number of years, I participated in this exact parade along with my fellow dance team members. The parade brings back vivid memories of fighting cold and fatigue to achieve the reward of entertaining thousands of onlookers lined up on the side...

Soulmate - A person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner. When most people think of a soulmate, they think of their significant other. But in my opinion, a soulmate doesn't have to be someone you are in love with romantically, they just have to be your ‘person’. The drama series, Grey’s Anatomy, showcases this theory through the relationship between Meredith Grey and Christina Yang. The two refer to each other as their person; their soulmate. Even after the best friends get married, their husbands understand that although they may be the love of their lives, they will never be their soulmates. That title is reserved for either Meredith or Christina. The term ‘my person’ indicates someone that will be there for you unconditionally, and yes - one can only hope that their husband or wife will love them through everything, but the only true person who will be is your best friend. Meredith and Christina prove that idea when they were the ones to stick by each ...

 Will life ever get easier?  After reading and replying to Sophia's blog post last week centered around the exponential stress that comes with maturing, I was inspired to share my thoughts on the subject.       When middle school began, I developed the skills necessary to survive in school and began feeling pressure to perform well. As each school year went by, I juggled more tests, projects, and homework simultaneously. During this stage in my life, I also pursued different out-of-school activities and hobbies, slowly figuring out what I was most passionate about.       The transitions from one year to the next felt smooth, leaving me feeling prepared for each year. However, once I entered high school, the transition from grade to grade felt less subtle; my parents' and teachers' expectations and academic workload increased significantly each year. This rising academic pressure and increased time spent on extracurricular activities ha...

     The hit American Teen Drama show 'Gossip Girl' was released on September 19, 2007, and ever since, it has been a fundamental part of almost every teenage girl's life. The measly 3.5 million viewers on the airing of its first episode have been rapidly growing since 2007. Since the pilot episode was launched, there has always been conversation about what team you are on. Are you team Blair or team Serena?       Between the six seasons, Blair Waldorf and Serena Van der Woodson overcome numerous obstacles that repeatedly put their friendship at risk. The pilot episode starts at Grand Central Station, with Serena getting off the train, showing that she is back in the City. Blair and Serena restart their friendship as Serena didn't pick up her life and go to boarding school, leaving Blair entirely in the dark. They continue to forget the recurrent issues that constantly appear in their friendship: fights, cheating, lying, and persistent sabotage. Despit...

     If you have known me for a while, you know that I always have a pair of AirPods in at all times listening to music (unless of course, I am speaking with someone, I have manners). Spotify Wrapped can corroborate this fact as my “minutes listened” for 2021 well surpassed all my classmates and friends. So, for the amount of time I have devoted to listening to music, you would think I have a distinct genre or artist I enjoy. But really, it is the exact opposite. The wide variety of genres and artists only stylistically broadened my playlist, rather than refining it. Describing my playlists as incoherent and inconsistent is merely an understatement, so, when people ask me what my music taste is, I simply just respond with: I have no clue. Even my playlists specifically catered for a certain mood is unclear. But really, at the end of the day, it only has to make sense to me, right?      What I cannot stand is people describing my music taste as “bad”, and ju...

     As American citizens, there are two major holidays a year in which our patriotism is demonstrated. The Fourth of July, and my personal favorite, Thanksgiving. The Fourth of July may very well be the birth of our nation, however, Thanksgiving gives us quite the scrumptious meal options. Thanksgiving is a time when your friends no longer become your friends, no, they become your family. As Mark Sinclaire, better known as Vin Diesel once said, "I don't have friends, I have family." It is unclear as to whether or not Diesel was referring to the fourth Thursday in November, but nonetheless, it really demonstrates how great a day Thanksgiving is. Oftentimes, families may argue and feel divided, however, there is one universal thing that unites all Americans. Food . The great thing about the Turkey day is its variety of delicious foods that families can eat together.      With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I want to talk about a few of my favorite Tha...

     One of the most commonly used image formats is the Graphic Interchange Format. However, they are more commonly known as GIFs. They are short, animated images that can be used in all sorts of ways. However, what you may not realize is that this simple image format incited one of the most controversial debates in recent memory. Take a second to think about how you just pronounced the acronym. Did you pronounce it with a hard G (such as the "g" in "gorilla"), or with a soft G (such as the "g" in "gentle")? This debate may be trivial, but people have very strong opinions nonetheless.     According to a Mashable poll, the hard G is greatly favored compared to the soft G. In a poll with over 30,000 participants, 70 percent of respondents prefer the hard G, with the remaining 30 percent favoring the soft G. According to The Economist, people who live in more developed countries are more likely to use the hard G, whereas people who live in less deve...

     If you were to ask me what my favorite show was and what my comfort s how was, they would be two separate shows. I would probably say Jane the Virgin for my favorite show, but for my comfort show, I would definitely say New Girl (watch both now!). I feel like most of my friends don’t hear me talk about New Girl as much as I talk about my other favorite shows because my favorite shows keep me on the edge of my seat, take me on a rollercoaster of emotions, and force me to be invested in the plot and characters, while shows like New Girl calm my nerves and make me feel at peace. New Girl tells the story of a girl moving into an apartment with four guy roommates. There was still an interesting plot line with twists and turns that I didn’t expect, but more than that, I liked it because I could open up my laptop and watch Jess, Nick, Schmidt, Winston, and Coach take on another part of life. Their unique personalities made each one of them likable in their own way, and by ...

  As many people may already know, I have been wanting a cat for a very long time, and finally got one recently. Contrary to the negative generalization about the pet, she is quite social around people and loves attention. Since having her, I have learned various things about owning an animal other than a dog, which I have had throughout my entire life.       One of the most unsurprising things I have learned is that the stereotypes about cats and dogs not getting along are beyond true. In the few weeks I have had a cat, there have been many failed attempts to introduce her to my dog, Maggie, as every time my mom and I try to allow the two pets to get acclimated to each other, our newest addition to the family, Stella, tries to slap Maggie across her furry face, which results in lots of barking, growling, and hissing. When unsupervised, the two pets stay in different parts of my house; however, they still manage to paw at each other from under the doors. While...

 Gilmore Girls is a show about the relationship between a young mother named Lorelei and her daughter Rory. The show starts when Rory is sixteen years old, the age her mother was when she gave birth to her, the show displays the ups and downs of their small-town life. During the first season Rory begins to experience her first love, she meets a charming boy named Dean. To Rory, Dean was her safe space, the ultimate first love. This love did not last long after the arrival of Jess, the most dangerous love in Rory’s life. Jess immediately caught Rory’s eye for his outspoken intelligence and kindness towards the world. This relationship was most definitely an uphill battle from the beginning. Rory was used to her gentleman of a boyfriend that would sacrifice almost anything for her, but this love could not be any more different. This relationship certainly caused Rory the most pain due to how unstable Jess was. He could tell Rory he loves her one day and then leave her the next. All o...