TTJamie

1. Put yourself in place of one of the boys who escaped the crash but was forced to watch "helplessly as Rob died." What is going through your head? How do you feel physically and mentally? How do you think that you will feel tomorrow?

If I were in the place of one of the boys who escaped, I'd probably feel helpless, confused, depressed, and angry that I couldn't help Rob. I'd also physically feel tired, but I wouldn't give up on trying to help untill the last second. I'd be thinking of different ways to get him out of the car, until there were no other options. Going through my head, I'd be thinking it is my fault, and that I could have done more to help him. I'd think I should have died and not Rob. I think that tomorrow would feel like eternity. I wouldn't know what to do with myself and most likely wander around helplessly.

2. When you hear or read of a car accident that involved teenagers, what do you tend to assume was the cause of the accident? What about if you hear about an accident involving the elderly? Explain your answers.

When I read about car accidents or hear of them, I constantly think that achool and drugs were involved. But then again I also think that they could have been speeding or lost control. An elderaly I asume that they feel asleep.

4. In a paragraph rich with sensory detail, write about your own most frightening moment.

The most frighting moment for me is when we were setting up for my birthday party for the next day, and the sheriff called. My dad answeared the phone and walked outside. I heard little of what my dad said. He came back in with tears flooding his eyes, he gave me a hug, and told me Joey wouldn't show up for my birthday parties anymore. I looked up at him and asked why. He said because Joey has passed away. I asked how and he told me that he had a drug over dose. I pushed myself away from my dad and ran until I couldn't run anymore. I didn't know what I should have done next. I sat right were Joey would be buried in a couple days, and I did nothing but cry. I cried until night came, when my Dad came to look for me.

10. Andy mentions that some kids at school haven't looked him in the face since the acident;one even taped a mean note to is locker. How would you treat Andy now? Elaborate

I would treat Andy with greif. I'd explain to him that i was sorry for what happened, that i am glad he is still alive and that none of this was his fault. I would stand up for him saying " You need to stop and relize that could have been any of you who was in the accident. How would you feel if I tape a sign to your locker saying 'killer'?

12. Do you feel that your parents 'get' you or don't understand you at all? What makes you think this? Explain

I don't think parents understand the presure and drama in their kids lives. If you ask my thoughts, I'd tell you that parents still need to be presuring, but not as much. I also think in a way, they are just trying to get us kids ready for what they never expected in their lives. Everything that we are going through now, they might have been through it and the same age. Its just the fact that kids are mature faster, and want to be indepenet faster. We don't relize what we are getting ourselves into.

5. Although many people did cry, Rhonda did not cry after the accident occured; she was angry. When or if a public tragedy occurs and it is not someone in your immediate family (9/11/01), how do you respond? Explain

My cousin was killed in a tractor trailer accident in Aken, South Carolina. At first I was mad at the newsreporters and the driver of the truck, but then I relized , it wasn't their faults. It was nobody's andI should have not have judged them. It was a true lost to lose a little boy who was seven years old, to where, he wouldnt be able to finish school, or compete in his karate finals. You would have never thought of a seven year old, getting his life tooken away at that age.

11.Does doing homework help you to perform better on tests? Does homework seem purposeful to you, or is it basically a waste of time? What alternate do you suggest? Defend your answer.

Homework does and does not help me with tests. When I don't understand them, the homework helps me to understand them better. But when I do understand what the subject is, I fail the test because the homework gets me all kinds of confused. I think it has it's purpose, but to me, no it doesn't serve a purpose. I suggest study groups in class. Two or three people at each desk, going over material BEFORE a test(s).

16. Andy envisions that Monty will have a future as a lawyer or a doctor. But when he thinks of his own future, he sees a blank or darkness. Can you picture who you will be in 15 years? What do you envision for your future?

I think he says that now bevause he is in shock and he lost his best friend in a car accident were he was driving. He could have suggested Bj to drive but he must have thought he could handle the achool he consumed. I can picture myself in Saint Clairsville with a husband who works as a car mechanic and two kids. I can also see myself working as a cosmotologist.

15. In a class discussion, Keisha says, "All of us at one time or another feel like a "cinder among snowflakes. You stand out when you want to blend in. You get noticed whether you want to or not." In a paragraph, write about a time when you have felt like a "cinder among the snowflakes". When I first moved to yorkville and started to go to kindergaden at South, I felt different because my parents were divorced . Then I met Anna, who only lived down the street from me, who I shared my problems with. I didn't relize how much we had in common those days because we were always hanging out and getting in trouble.

13. Andy believes that his friends would talk about him if he won academic awards, and then consider Marcus's unpopularity due to his achievement. Is academic failure or apathy built into teenager's notions about what is 'cool'? What effect does academic achievement have on you?

I think on the inside of teenagers that it is a apathy, but they act like its a failure towards their friends. I get B's and C's and all of my friends know I can get straight B's, it's just, i feel like I'd be an over-achevier. They know that i'm not that smart, but they wouldn't make fun of me because I got an A on the quiz, they'd tell me to help them out with that subject and move on.