There Is Never An End, Simply A New Beginning

Dear Journal,

I know how you must feel, but worry not. Despite what the voice states in Everything Matters!, there is never a end. True, the time with my fellow AP English students and Ms. Serensky is coming to a close, but it just marks the beginning of the next chapter that is my life. Not just my life for that matter, but all of our lives. Another year has come and gone, but not without events that have altered the very way we view and live life. The struggles we have faced as AP English students have brought us together through the collective stresses of constant homework, reading, and essays. We get homework, which causes us to complain, which causes us to laugh, which brings us joy. So...English homework brought us joy? I'd rather not create a conundrum, and I'll stick to the simple goodbye.

It has been fun, honestly and truly. Whether I know it or not, everyone has impacted me in some way, and for that I am thankful. I feel as though I am a better writer and person because of this course, so I will always look back on this time we've had in fond memory. The class had its ups and downs; we all know this, but the ups felt as though they skyrocketed, while the downs only made us more determined to reach for the sky.

Some people go through their entire life just staring up at the sky, wishing to touch it.

We choose to take matters into our own hands. We reach for the sky and keep reaching until our hands grasp its vastness. We don't keep the sky for ourselves though, we release it so future generations have something to aim for, just as we did.

If that last couple of sentences confuses you, Journal, then allow me to simplify it. Rather than hoping and wishing for something to happen, we go out and accomplish it ourselves, rather than waiting for something to happen. In order for this to continue though, we need to encourage future generations to do the same. Do we want a society built upon "I could have, but didn't" or "I should have, and did"?

Fellow AP English students, here is my piece of wisdom I'd like to leave with: never give up on your dreams. If you do, that's all they'll ever be, fleeting dreams of a yesterday that could have been today.

Peace Out,

Marc

Oh, It's Worth It. Usually.

1. It's almost impossible not to pass the AP test. Ms. Serensky fully prepares you for it.
2. It helps your writing in general, which is more important than an AP score, in my opinion.
3. You become more responsible. Ms. Serensky doesn't accept late work. Ever.
4. It's something else to complain about, because let's be honest, we love to complain.
5. The books you will read are usually really interesting and great pieces of literature. Some books might be utterly depressing, but that doesn't make it a bad book.
6. The unity between all AP English students with their shared love and pain is an experience all on its own, and brings everyone together.
7. You get graded on in-class discussions, which essentially is everyone just arguing over an obscure part in the book that may or may not ever come up again.
8. You can display your nerdiness intelligence by trying "one-up" everyone else in the class; a.k.a.., Thomas Donley's job.
9. You get to hang out with Ms. Serensky every single day. I mean, it doesn't get much better than that, right?
10. Witness the hilarity as someone attempts to go to the restroom in AP English. Ms. Serensky has never said that she prohibits the use of the restroom, but everyone just assumes it.

Her reaction to #10.

Ms. Serensky, can I use the-nevermind...

No Nonsense

Junior: "Imagine having that same feeling every day of your life..." (Currie 251).
Iago: "Practicing upon his peace and quite,/Even to madness" (Shakespeare 2.1.310-311).
Jack: "For Heaven's sake, don't try to be cynical. It's perfectly easy to be cynical" (Wilde 7).
Junior: "Regular classes don't work for either of us" (Currie 64).
Iago: "Do it not with poison. Strangle [the test] in [its] bed" (4.1.209).
Junior: "What do you mean?" (Currie 244).
Jack: "Oh, that's nonesense, [Iago]. You never talk anything but nonsense" (Wilde 19).
Iago: "Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with me" (Shakespeare 4.3.239).
Jack: "You have got to leave..." (Wilde 30).
Iago: "From this time forth I never will speak word" (Shakespeare 5.2.300).
Junior: "Well I think you get a free pass on that, considering" (Currie 273).
Jack: "I hate talking" (Wilde 17).
Junior: "We'll make it quick" (Currie 279).
Iago: "Whilst you were here, o'erwhelmed with your grief-" (4.1.78).
Jack: "Your vanity is ridiculous, your conduct an outrage, and your presence...utterly absurd" (Wilde 30).
Iago: "I humbly do beseech you of your pardon/For too much loving [him]." (3.3.212-213).