Friday, April 24, 2015

Teachers Who Don't Teach

With less than 3 weeks until the big day(s), AP teachers are trying to squeeze in as many practice exams and practice FRQs as possible. Along with this comes an amount of unneeded stress that just adds to the amount that we're already under.

This year, I was blessed with having both of my AP classes back to back. Fourth and fifth period are the time where my teachers yell their brains out and get frustrated to the point of almost crying. Along with that comes the fact that they're both giving practice every things so I'm forced to try and get my brain to concentrate and comprehend all the work that is being thrown at me.

Teachers have to understand that they're talking to kids that range from the ages of 14 to 18. How can you possibly expect me to write a DBQ like I'm talking to someone that is "simple minded" and then talk to me like I'm a professor at Harvard. Teachers are supposed to TEACH hence the name. We shouldn't be expected to self teach and then just review in class. And if they do expect us to do that, then they can not possibly get angry with us when we don't understand because they are technically not doing their job. We all know that we have a huge exam coming up and yes some students are not pulling their weight but some students genuinely do not understand and should not be punished by their teachers for that. If a student asks a question, it's obviously because they don't understand. When a teacher replies with "I already answered that" it doesn't benefit anyone and just has the teacher wasting her breath.

LMS if you agree.

Friday, April 17, 2015

Do You Believe in Magic?

Upon my return to Miami Dade County Jail Palmetto Senior High, the first task at hand was to make up everything that I had missed. First class to tackle: AP Human Geography.

Since I am still in the "please don't call on me or acknowledge my existence" with my teacher Mr. Hayduk, I decided to make up his test first so he wouldn't have a reason to yell/get mad at me. I grew some balls and went up to him after class. He simply told me to come during Journalism so I could have 45 minutes or to come during lunch and have 30 minutes. Now most people would've taken the option that gives them more time, so that's what I did. I went during lunch which gave me more time throughout the day to study.

When the time came, I had studied for a good 30 minutes in total and had 30 minutes to match 75 vocabulary words to their definitions. Needless to say I was close to pooping my pants especially since I failed the last test. I put the paper in front of me and it was like I was reborn. It was magical. I knew exactly what I was doing and it was such a rush. Knowing what the answer was without even having to second guess it is a feeling that I have missed. This made me realize that I've basically given up on myself and need to buckle down.

The next day I failed my Unit 3 Test. :)

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

MONO-jarrez

  Throughout one's lifetime, you get sick many times. It's uncontrollable, uncomfortable, but none the less, natural. Usually when you tell someone you're ill they say, "Hope you feel better!" or "Do you want some soup?" What did I get? An "F" in my toughest class that now sits at a 0.31.

  Officially known as Infectious Mononucleosis, it's become known as "the kissing disease". It is also known that it can be spread but only through saliva. Why am I telling you this? Because April 3rd I had a little itch in my throat when I woke up for 7 AM practice. I thought it was nothing more than a dry throat and that it would pass. Boy was I wrong. Next thing I know I'm out of school for 6 days and have everyone pretty much making fun of me and coming up with names that now seem to be stuck with me like "Monojarrez".

  Regardless of the time of year, missing 6 days of school is a lot. Now imagine missing thing much when you are one month away from what seems to be the first standardized test you will ever fail. As Mrs. Farkas likes to say, "the train never stops moving" and she means it. Over a span of 6 days I managed to miss 4 tests/quizzes and tons of information which will now never get the chance to go in one ear and out of the other. In my other AP class - AP Human Geography - I missed a huge unit test and the ability to become accustomed to the teaching style of my adoptive teacher Mr. Hayduk.

  I've always thought that everything happens for a reason, but I sure don't see one behind getting Mono.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Intro

     Around this time one year ago, I was an eager eighth grader, ready to own the halls of Miami Palmetto Senior High. Before I could do that though I had to have my teachers - specifically history - assign me to a class according to my competence. It was between Honors World History and the oh so dreaded AP World History. My beloved teacher Ms. Mateu thought I should try Honors since I had achieved a B every quarter. I on the other hand thought my sole purpose in life was to be in AP and how could she possibly think that I, Michelle Monjarrez, belonged in the second best class. With a little persuasion she did sign my sheet and I was feeling on top of the world...one year later and I feel anything but that. At t minus 5 weeks to the big exam, the entire student body that inhabits Ms. Farkas's classroom is on a roll to receiving that email that says "Sorry bud, you may have suffered various mental breakdowns over the past year but guess what! It was all for nothing because you failed! Sincerely, The College Board." Join me as I go through crunch time and see if I achieve the almost impossible - passing the AP World History Exam.