Sponsor Visit

So, this week there was no sponsor meeting, and because of my busy schedule packing, and getting in a couple of papers, I did not have the chance to create my own sponsor meeting. I know that sucks right. Unfortunately, my sponsor, Mr. Flood, is busy writing his thesis for his Master’s degree. I am going to get in touch with him, hopefully, so I can make sure he knows the date of my presentation.

Mentor Meeting

So, this weeks mentor meeting was a short, but sweet one, as mentioned in my other blogs the project presentation is on its way and what I did this week was just quickly bounce my itinerary off of Mrs. Baggs, and she gave me some insight on what she thinks about each idea.

We talked about my Shakespearean monologue at the end of the presentation, and how the one I had in mind encompasses my project and what I’d like to get across to the audience.

I was just thinking how much I appreciate Mrs. Baggs and all she’s done for me, she’s just really been a great sounding board, and I’m really going to need her help as I set up more and more of this presentation, and my date to preform draws nearer.

My Choice: Disney World Adventures!

Many of the Senior Project Students won’t be here coming next Monday because of the extremely exciting Senior Trip to Disney World.

I’m so excited I can’t even explain it. This is hopefully going to be one of the greatest experiences of my High school life. I hope that this trip will allow me to create so many memories with all of my friends.

Also this should be an excellent time to observe some great acting. Disney has all its memorable characters represented at the park to entertain the kids, so to be able to convince the children that they are the characters, they must be good actors themselves. I hope the trip will be something that will be worth my nine hundred dollars.

Making Connections: What's a Show without an Audience?

Time is ticking away faster and faster as the Senior Project Presentations draw nearer and nearer. I was just realizing that if I do this presentation it will have monumentally less meaning if nobody is there to watch it.

So, I’ve been advertising and thinking of ways to get people to come see my presentation. I thought of the connection this has with theatre, what’s a show without an audience?

Mr. Carol, the musical director of our LHS’ musicals once told us that you take a bow not to give the audience a chance to acknowledge, but for you to acknowledge them. You’re telling them that this show, and all the work you put into it was or them, and you thank them for coming to the show, and you hope that they enjoyed it.

I realized that my presentation is going to be a performance, and the important thing is to make sure that the audience enjoys every moment of it, and that if you’re performance has a message, which it should, you should make sure that your audience walks away having received that message. So, in the end, a show without an audience isn’t really a show at all.

My Choice: Let's go to the Cappies

Last night, Lindenwold High School cleaned up at the Cappies, with a myriad of victories. Devon Gibbs won for Senior Female Critic, Deja Lee won a Spirit award, Chris Price won the inagural Casey Feldman Scholorship Award, and Gabe Cisneros won Best Supporting Actor in a Play, also I won Best Lead Actor in a Play last night!!!

I was very grateful and excited when I won this award, I can't even describe the feeling of victory, and the gratefulness, and just the speechlessness I feel at the moment. It's a highlight of my life, I've never been so honored, and I appreciate all the people I could not do this without.

Mentor Meeting: Senior Project Set in Motion

My Choice: Florence + the Machine

I think I am in love. <3 The woman who stole my heart away from all the ladies would be Florence from Florence + the Machine.

In all seriousness, I really think that Florence has an amazing talent that I just have to share. Her voice is melodic and quirky. Her songs are interesting, and no two are the same. Her lyrics are abstract yet, straightforward. She has really captivated me lately, I can't stop listening to any of her songs. She is truly an artist in my opinion. Plus I find it interesting that she has no actual band. I mean she has a few members she keeps around, but in general any musician she wishes can become a part of "the Machine" and join her on a long term basis or just for one recording of one song. I'm really glad to have found this musician, and I hope she does great things!

To Mentor or Not to Mentor?

So, this week I didn't have a mentor meeting as well. How unfortunate, but I did send an email to my mentor setting up a time for us to meet. Regrettably I don't have a lot to put in this weeks mentor blog, but hopefully next week's blog will be one with insight and guidance.

Making Connections: A Senior Trip Adventure!

So, today the senior project class went to Lindenwold park on a field trip to make connections. The day could've not been better for this. The temperature was perfect, a substainial wind was blowing gently across the land, and the sun was shining brightly as can be. We all walked towards the park and made various connections along the way.

Then Mr. Abrams set us loose and told us to go and find a connection on our own. I found my connection as I looked around. I saw the newness of the land. I saw the flowers and the blue sky, the growing trees, and budding plants, and I thought of theatre's ability to allow things to grow things, to bring new ideas to life, and to rejuvenate a community.

Meeting with Flood

So. as anyone involved in Mrs. Trip's theatre classes know, it's Mr. Flood's last week with us here at Lindenwold, which presents a particularly difficult situation for me since my Senior Project Sponsor will be leaving!!

Now, Mr. Flood and I were going to schedule another meeting later this week so we can discuss what we're going to do for the rest of the year, but this meeting something else different entirely. I wanted to understand what Mr. Flood had gotten from this experience student teaching here what he told me was very interesting.

He first told me the ins and outs of the "business"( the teaching business that is). He told me that to become a successful new teacher you must always be real. You should not present a fake version of yourself and should be upfront and honest because people are there to help you and if you don't be yourself you can't get help. He also told me that a student teacher needs to respect his teaching seniors because they all have something to offer even if you may not like that particular individual.

Then he told me that he believed that teaching can be hard, but fun. He also said he believes that as long you're doing something you love than you'll be able to enjoy all the hard work you have to go through. He said to be a succesful teacher you have to respectful to your students, and listen to their opinions, which is something I found very admirable.

Mr. Flood told me he was glad to serve his teaching time here at LHS. He said that he doesn't know how it would've been with other schools, but because he came to LHS he belives that he wants to be a teacher more than ever.