As Told By Alizen(:

When I first heard about this class, I thought to myself, I’m going to love it! I get to combine my favorite subject with a hobby of mine: blogging. As the year progressed I soon found myself enjoying the assignments while improving my writing style simultaneously. Prior to entering this class, I was a semi-avid reader. If given the time, I would read a lot more books. However, because APs were so rudely introduced into my life, I found myself detaching myself from the very reason I read books: to escape from reality. I am sorry to say that I have not changed in any manner from the reader I was then and the reader I am now. Time is money, and quite frankly I do not have the time to enjoy such a luxury.
HOWEVER, I have always been enthused through writing, and while blogging may seem like an informal way to do so, it taught me how to lengthen my posts while including facts to back it up. Having credit links helped me learn how to properly cite credit for the materials I used to write my blogs. I believe I am a stronger writer than I was back in 10th grade, thanks to the assignments we received. One of my favorite lessons was our Dumbest Generation Project. It was a great way to interact with the entire school while using data that was effective (and interesting!). My favorite book was Native Son because I felt a sense of connection to him, and Wright’s use of extended metaphor impressed me.
I perceive myself as a stronger writer, and an even stronger student. As a person, I view myself as someone filled with passion, a passion to succeed. I have learned to take life at face value, and how to cope with difficult decisions. Taking this class provided the calm between the storm that separated me from AP Chemistry and insanity.
The blogging idea is a great one that I believe should be continued. This not only allows the students to participate in the comfort of their homes, but also engages those outside of our class to construct us. My advice for next year’s students is to GET WORK DONE EARLY. A large amount of my year was spent staying up late on Tuesday nights finishing up my weekly readers, something that should have been done over the week. Also, subscribe to the feed as it will be your best friend and your lifesaver. Be wary of the things you post, I’ve gotten some crazy search referrals thanks to the blogs I’ve written. And last but not least, HAVE FUN! This class was structured freely. Use it to your advantage.