Everything Matters About My Favorite Novel

Ron Currie’s novel Everything Matters! truly stuck with me this year. First of all, the novel provided the unique prospective of multiple first person speakers. This helped to see the world of the characters through their eyes which helped bring them to life. I also found the flawed characters very relatable. Junior’s mother Debbie “is a drunk” which creates tension in the family (55). Currie also appealed to my humor through the character of Amy. I found the moment where she decides to smoke on the plane quite humorous, “pathetic, I know, but it doesn’t take much to thrill you when you’re so used to following the rules” (203). I also found the whole idea of multiple universes quite intriguing. To think that the option to “pick a self. Any self” might exist baffles me (262). And the whole idea of Junior stepping on a bee completely altering his future really made me sit down and think about how every little action I have made has helped to form the life I have today. If I think about this too much, the idea ensues panic in my mind. Simply thinking about the "precious moments of my life ticking away” seems like a daunting task. However, Currie manages to calm these nerves with Junior’s absolute calm approach to accepting death in the end. He leaves readers with an uplifting message that “anything, anything, anything is possible” (302).

Top Ten Most Thrilling Academic Moments of My High School Career

1.      Passing AP English 11 for “it had always been a girlish dream of mine” (33)

2.      Getting an “A” on the 10^th grade research English project, a grade that I would call “all in all sufficient” for my hard work (4.1.265)

3.      Passing Honors Trigonometry, for this class was a “monster in thy thought, too hideous to be shown” to the weaker minded (3.3.07)

4.      Receiving an 8 on an AP English essay. I remember “clutching the scrap of paper as if it contained the secret to saving the world” or at least my grade in AP English (100)

5.      My first sticker on the Othello datasheet filled me up with “a happiness so strong you just know you’re going to pay for it later” (157)

6.      Third highest scorer in an AP multiple choice game in AP English 11. As I heard my name called I first doubted my ears, surely this was a mistake. But as the truth of the moment set in “I [was]… in a state [of extreme] happiness” (196)

7.      Receiving positive comments on an English paper. This accomplishment truly proved to me that “anything, anything, anything is possible” (302)­­­

8.      Earning a sticker on my The Importance of Being Earnest analysis. “What? What?” another sticker to add to my modest collection (4.1.33). I will gladly accept this reward!

9.      My group winning first place in a game of AP Multiple choice. Finally! “I think it is high time” that I finally receive the maximum extra credit points (9)!

10.   Maintaining a 4.0 GPA for the fourth quarter of my senior year. “I felt instinctively” that this would prove to be quite a difficult task, and it has lived up to my standard (23)

My Favorite Poem

My favorite poem that we read this year was “Sestina” by Ciara Shuttleworth. The simplicity of this poem truly spoke to me in a way that none of the other works could manage to. The repetition of the six words parallels the uncertainty of emotions as if to say “this is love” (61). The poem moves through the process of denial and pain to acceptance “creating a distance between” the two lovers (86). The raw emotion found in the piece truly captured my attention the first time I read it. One moment the speaker accuses their lover of ruining their relationship and then suddenly “the moment has passed” and given way to a flood of acceptance and reflection (99). This poem seemed very real and relatable, which is one of the reasons that I enjoyed it so much.

A Look into the Past

As I walked into the room I was instantly filled with excited anticipation for the conversation to follow, the day we learned about Ms. Serensky’s past. The desks, arranged in a tight circle, set the scene for a completely different class. As she passed out suckers to each of us to “keep all of you quiet” Ms. Serensky seated herself in the circle and began. She spoke of her remembrance of high school and the limited challenges she was presented with. However, when she approached college, she found that school was not so simple. “You will not always be the best” she warned, “accept it, so you don’t waste energy” (16). She told of her humbling experiences in college, and how her approach to teaching will truly prepare us for the future. She then began to describe on particularly warm day when she visited the pool. While swimming, a man quizzed her on William Shakespeare works, later; she learned that he was to be her professor “this was her first remembrance of” the man (3.3.290). She spoke of how he challenged her and forced her out of her comfort zone to achieve all that she was capable of. “I have tried to model my teaching style from him” she explained. Then she reached her teaching years in the story, she told of how she struggled to create a teaching style that would truly help us achieve what she wished she had in high school. I sat in silence the entire period, with an exception of the few laughs that escaped my lips. A smile grew across my face as the story continued. Finally, the bell rang, and I slowly gathered my books and walked towards the door with a whole new prospective on a woman I had known for about two years. “[It was] a very painful parting” from the room (31). I did not want to leave the positive atmosphere and return to the mundane routine of the everyday.  However, I forced myself to venture onto my next class, leaving behind the best day in AP English 12 I have ever experienced.

Emilia's Relationship Advice

Emilia: My Lady! Do walk with me!

Miss Prism: Certainly “I will have a stroll with you” my dear Emilia (23)

Emilia: Are things sensational between Doctor Chasuble and yourself?

Miss Prism: “It is somewhat too sensational” I fear (23)

Emilia: “Come come! You talk” tell me all (4.3.25)

Miss Prism: Doctor Chasuble is a polite man, but far too submissive! “I know no one who has a higher sense of duty and responsibility” but how he troubles me so! (21)

Emilia: Good madam, have thy not spoken to him of thy fears? How is he to know?

Miss Prism: I fear I have not the courage to confront him. Besides, I’m gonna get real weird with it if I try to speak from my heart. I fear my world is ending!

Emilia: “State matters as you think!” (3.4.155) Lord knows “the world’s a huge thing; it is a great price for a small voice” (4.3.70)

Miss Prism: Dear Emilia! You are quite right! I must see to him at once! Take care my dear friend!

Emilia: Good madam make haste! 

Junior's Plea for Sympathy

Today was, without a doubt, the worst day of my life. I had to sit through fifty minuets of grueling criticisms of my life mistakes by a bunch of over-achieving seniors. Ms. Serensky’s AP English class tore apart my crumbling life after I lost contact with the love of my life Amy, just when I thought things could not get much worse, they spiraled into the abyss. Of course, I know my choice to turn towards drugs and alcohol may not have been the best of choices, but come on now! I was depressed! A little sympathy would have been much appreciated. But as the class continued to question why I didn’t do something more useful with my dwindling time, I found that I simply had “no explanation to offer” (98). Looking back on my past life choices, there really was no excuse for my reaction. At one point, a girl by the name of Emily stated that she was “really disappointed with [my] behavior and the waste of potential”. At this moment, “there was a sudden, powerful awkwardness between us” (99). I mean seriously, I am being chastised by a group of eighteen year olds who live in a bubble! I really did not know how to react to this criticism of my life style.  So I decided to retaliate pleading that my life was difficult but “it was a mistake the moment the words [left] my mouth” (100). Instantly this group of frenzied teens attacked my weak excuse. I had no help from anyone, I was alone. It is never a pleasant feeling, to sit and listen to others mock you and have no say. I wonder if any of these students have ever made any mistakes, they all seem so perfect when they sit and judge me. If they were in my shoes, what would they have done I wonder? 

Growth

Dear seemingly omniscient voice in the head of Junior,

Today I thought that I would reveal to you some information about my experience in AP English 11 in the years of 2009 and 2010. As a sixteen year old junior in high school, I was naturally quite nervous about this class. Looking back, I feel that your statement to Junior, “never again will you bear so little responsibility for your own survival” truly speaks volumes to the experience of AP English 11 as compared to that of AP English 12 (3). At the time, I felt as though I was truly on my own, struggling in the few graded discussions and writing SOAPSTones on a weekly if not daily basis. But really, we were all being led by Ms. Serensky. Until now, I never realized just how little we truly were on our own. Again your advice to Junior: “For now, all you need to do is grow” correlates with my experience in English (3). In AP English I found my voice as a writer and truly grew as a student. The whole point of the class is to improve as a writer and as a student in some form. The class prepped me for the actual challenge of AP English 12. One last piece of advice you divulged to Junior sticks with me, “you should make an effort, when not cowering…, to enjoy every moment here” (6). AP English, in the years 2009 and 2010, flew by in a blur. Much of the time in the room was wasted in a constant state of squeamish fear induced by graded discussions, writing, and trying to think like a smart person. Looking back, I can see clearly that this fear was truly a wasted emotion. Yes, feeling anxious and stressed is a normal reaction to these activities, but fear takes away from the amazing experience and opportunity presented to me. By this point I know that all of these activities are well within my abilities. I hope you continue to share your wisdom in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Hayden Dougherty