Quinn's blog

 PROMPT The dish that represents East African culture, specifically in Kenya and Uganda, is Ugali ( also known as Posho in Uganda). Ugali is a simple yet  foundational staple made by mixing cornmeal (maize flour) with boiling water until it reaches a thick, dough-like consistency. It is traditionally served hot alongside traditional leafy greens like Sukuma Wiki ( collard greens), stewed meat, or beans. Rather than using utensils, it is eaten with your hands by breaking off a small piece, rolling it into a ball, making a small indentation with your thumb, and using it to scoop up the accompanying side dishes. SUMMARY Ugali is a thick, cornmeal-based porridge staple central to daily life in Kenya and Uganda. It is eaten by hand and typically paired with vegetables or meat stews to form a complete meal. REFLECTION Ugali is much more than just sustenance; it is a symbol of community, resilience, and family unity. Growing up in an East African household, the sound of a wooden spoo...

PROMPT RESPONSE While writing my story, I experienced different emotions, including discomfort, sadness, and frustration. it was difficult to imagine being in a situation where someone is treated unfairly or made to feel bad because of hurtful words or actions. The part that affected me the most was describing how the person felt during the encounter. It made me think about how even a few words can stay with someone for a long time. writing the story also made me realize that people should think before they speak because something that seems like a joke to one person can be hurtful to another. SUMMARY My story focused on an uncomfortable encounter and the emotions that came with it. While writing, I thought about how offensive comments or actions can affect a person's confidence and the way they see themselves. The experience showed me that words can have a lasting impact, even after the conversation is over. REFLECTION The part of the writing that affected me the most was thinking...

 PROMPT RESPONSE One conversation that changed me was when someone I cared about told me that I should not worry so much about what other people think of me. They told me that I cannot make everyone like me, and that I should focus on being myself instead of constantly trying to please everyone. At first, I did not think much about it, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how true it was. The conversation stayed with me because I sometimes let other people's opinions affect how I feel about myself. SUMMARY The conversation taught me that I should not allow other people's opinions to control my confidence or happiness. I learned that it is normal for people to have to change myself just to be accepted by everyone. REFLECTION This conversation had a lasting impact on me because it helped me understand that I should value myself instead of always looking for approval from other people. I still care about what the people close to me think, but I have learned that I ...

 PROMPT RESPONSE When I was younger, I believed that if I swallowed chewing gum, it would stay in my stomach for seven years or forever, I remember hearing people say this and believing it because I did not really understand how the body worked. I thought the gum would just stay inside me until seven years had passed. As I got older, I learned that this was just something people commonly told children and that it was not actually true. SUMMARY As a child, I believed that swallowed gum would stay in my stomach for seven years. I believed it because I heard other people say it and trusted what they told me. Later, I learned more about how digestion works and realized that it was a childhood myth. REFLECTION Looking back, it was funny to think about how seriously I believed this. When you are young, you do not always question the things adults or other people tell you because you assume they are true. As I got older, I learned that it is important to ask questions and find out whether...

 PROMPT RESPONSE Troy's conversation made me think about how important fairness and equal opportunities are in society. In Fences, Troy explains how racial discrimination affected his opportunities at work and made it harder for him to move forward. If I were in Troy's position, I would try to speak up about the unfair treatment and explain why I believe everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed. I would also try to stay focused on improving my situation instead of allowing unfair treatment to stop me from working toward my goals. SUMMARY Troy's experience shows how discrimination can create barriers for people who are trying to build better lives for themselves and their families. His frustration comes from feeling that people were being treated differently because of their race rather than being judged fairly based on their abilities. The conversation shows that having an opportunity is important because people should be able to work hard and have a fair chance...

 PROMPT RESPONSE The character who stood out to me the most was Troy because he has a strong personality and many complicated relationships with the people around him. At first, I saw him mostly as a strict father, but as I continued reading, I understood that his past experiences influenced many of the choices he made. His conflict with Cory stood out to me because Troy wanted to protect his son and prepare him for life, but the way he treated Cory also created distance between them. I learned that sometimes people can care about their families while still making choices that hurt them. SUMMARY My project represents what I learned about Fences because it focuses on the characters, their relationships, and the different kinds of fences they build. The physical fence represents the barriers between people, while the objects and details in my project represent important parts of the characters lives. The story showed me how family, responsibility, dreams, forgiveness, and the past ca...

 PROMPT RESPONSE I do not think forgiving someone means you have to forget what they did. Forgiveness means choosing to let go of some of the anger and hurt instead of allowing it control you, but the memory of what happened can still remain. Remembering what happened can also help you learn from the situation and make better choices in the future. I think someone can forgive another person while still needing time to rebuild trust.  SUMMARY Forgiveness and forgetting are two different things. A person can forgive someone for their actions without pretending that the hurt never happened. Forgiveness can help someone move forward, while remembering the experience can help them understand what happened and avoid making the same mistakes again. REFLECTION I believe forgiveness is important because holding onto anger for a long time can make it harder to move forward. However, I don't think forgiving someone means you have to trust them exactly the same way as before. If someone h...

 PROMPT RESPONSE One character who  appeared differently in the movie than I imagined while reading fences was Troy. When I was reading the play, I imagined Troy as very serious and strict person, but seeing him in the movie made his personality feel stronger and more realistic. His facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language made it easier to understand how confident and stubborn he could be. I also noticed how his interactions with Cory and Rose showed emotions that were harder to picture while reading. The movie helped me see Troy as more than just a strict father because I could actually see the emotions behind his words and actions. SUMMARY The movie changed the way I understood Troy because I could see and hear his personality instead of only imagining it from the words in the book. His serious attitude, strong, personality, and complicated relationships with his family became more noticeable. Some scenes felt more intense in the movie because the actor's voices...

 PROMPT RESPONSE Yes, I think one major lie or betrayal can permanently change the way you see someone, especially if you trusted that person for many years. When someone breaks your trust, it can make you question other things they have said or done in the past. Even if you still care about the person, the relationship may not feel the same because the trust you had before has been damaged. However, I believe trust can sometimes be rebuilt if the person takes responsibility, honestly apologizes, and consistently shows through their actions that they are willing to change. Rebuilding trust takes time, and the person who was hurt should not be expected to trust again immediately. SUMMARY A major lie or betrayal can have a lasting effect on a relationship because trust is an important part of feeling safe and respected by someone. In Fences, Troy's revelation changes Rose's feelings toward him because she feels betrayed after years of marriage. Although relationships can sometime...

PROMPT RESPONSE I believe parents owe their children emotional support, love, encouragement, and guidance. Providing food, clothing, and shelter is important, but children also need to feel cared for and supported by their parents. SUMMARY Parents have both physical and emotional responsibilities. They should provide for their children while also showing them love, encouragement, and support. REFLECTION  I think emotional support is important because it can help children feel valued and understood. A parent does not have to agree with everything their child does, but they should still listen, encourage them, and let them know they are loved.

 PROMPT RESPONSE  Yes, I have had to choose between something I wanted and something I needed to do. For example, sometimes I want to relax or spend time on my phone, but I need to finish my schoolwork first. I choose to do my schoolwork because my responsibilities are important. SUMMARY Sometimes we have to put our responsibilities before the things we want. Making the right choice can mean giving up something fun for something more important. REFLECTION I think choosing what I need over what I want can be difficult, but it usually helps me in the long run. I was satisfied with my choice because finishing my responsibilities made me feel less stressed and allowed me to enjoy my free time afterward.