Soccer, The Beautiful Game

Football, soccer, The Beautiful Game, The World Game, whatever you want to call it is an international game for boys, girls, men, and women to enjoy, but it hasn't always been that way. So how did soccer transform through history?

Carli Lloyd for the US Women's team

Soccer was first seen in China back in 206 BC as 蹴鞠 (Cùjū) it was a game boys played for fun and the goal was to hit a ball between two goalposts and under the crossbar into the net. You could use any part of your body except your hands. It was quite similar to modern day soccer but it was technically an unofficial sport.

Fast forward a couple centuries and we get to the 1848 where the Cambridge Rules written at Trinity University and soccer is becoming more organized. Now clubs unconnected to schools are starting to be created, and also there were starting to be leagues like the Sheffield FA.

At this point soccer is still only a men's sport and women haven't been given they're own league yet but in 1894 an activist by the name of Nettie Honeyball create the British Ladies' Football Club. Despite the good times of women's soccer they faced the ultimate struggle, England's Football Association voted to ban women's professional football to play on standard football pitches. The ban was only officially lifted in 1969. The Women's World Cup was first inaugurated in 1991 and has been held every four years ever since.

Soccer, Football, The Beautiful Game, The World Game, whatever you want to call it, has had some rough times but all in all it's a sport that brings people together around the world. It will always have it's place in history no matter how your history books say it.

Skateboarding, a Misconceived Sport

For as long as most can remember, it’s been a common misconception that those who skateboard are almost always associated with drugs, alcohol, tattoos, vandalism, and crime. So how did people begin thinking this way?

Skateboarding is often associated with vandalism

Skateboarding has been around since about the late 1940’s. The first skateboards were created by children, which they did by attaching roller skate wheels to a board. Skateboarding was first invented in California as a way for surfers to ride and have fun when the waves were flat. Soon enough, skaters began experimenting with riding down steep hills, ditches, and pools. Skateboarding quickly became associated with crime when teens trespassed into people’s property, drained their pools, and had fun with their friends for a little while, until the police came. Already, skateboarders were assumed as trespassers and criminals.

The skateboarding troupe grew during the 1980’s, when drug use spiked. Listening to punk rock, vandalizing property with graffiti, and skateboarding were all promoted as a part of the culture. Thrasher, a skateboarding magazine founded in 1981, was a symbol of the skate-punk culture.

However, the skate community was never homogenous. While many of the skaters stuck true to the stereotypes, there have always been people breaking them. Over the years, the vandalizing, drug-using, and criminal skateboarding typecast has faded out. People are setting new records every day in the skateboarding world.

In our current year, many people still choose to view skateboarding as an accessory of rebellious teens.

 

♡

Sometimes, I feel uncomfortable when I'm crusing down the blocks near my house, or when my brother and I make the whole neighborhood echo when we land tricks. There are always those older neighbors, mowing their lawns, staring at us with disapproving faces. At a young age, I was taught by just street signs that skateboarding was bad. In films and movies, skateboarding was almost always done by the gangster and thug characters. Even when walking to the grocery store, I saw signs with the all-familiar stick figure, this time riding a skateboard. The image had a big red circle with a cross through it. This sent a clear message - no skateboarding.

When skateboarding was first coined, it was dominated by men. There were no rules that stated it, but for many years, no girl had stepped foot into the world of skateboarding. In this day and age, this is no longer true. Jordyn Barratt, Arianna Carmona, Natalie Westling, and Poppy Starr are all female skateboarders breaking the boundaries of skateboarding today. Sky Brown, one of my biggest idols, an 8 year old girl, became the youngest female skateboarder to compete (against adults!) in the Vans US Open Pro Series.

Sky Brown

As a girl who enjoys skateboarding in 2017, I have never felt weird, or been put down about it
because I'm a girl. Our society has evolved so much in this way, and I'm proud to say it.

Today, skateboarding is a sport still categorized into a crime by some. Nonetheless, it has evolved into a sport that many continue to enjoy. Whether it’s drifting along an empty road with ease, or showing off the coolest tricks, skateboarding is an art that we can all enjoy.

♡

Marie Antoinette, The Last Queen, French Revolution

Marie Antoinette in the French revolution was known as Madame Déficit because the country's financial crisis was accused on her luxurious spending and her disapproval to the social and financial. 

Marie was the last queen before the French Revolution. She was born an Austrian princess, she soon married Louis XVI at the age of 14. Prior to their marriage it took 7 years for the queen and king to finally agree for the marriage. Although Marie Antoinette soon started to fall because of the country's financial crisis was accused on her luxurious spending band her disapproval to the social and financial. 

A revolt started the first year of revolution. The third estate assaulted the Bastille on July. After the revolution put the royal family under house arrest in the Tuileries Palace. In June 1791 the royal family attempted to escape, and her role in the War of the First Coalition, had a bad effect on the French popular opinion. On August 10 1792, the attack on the Tuileries pushed the royal family to take safety at the Assembly, and on August 13, the family was taken hostage. On September 19 1792, the monarchy was done. After a two-day trial began on 14 October 1793, and Marie Antoinette was found guilty. Marie Antoinette soon died on October 16, 1793.

I liked writing about Marie Antoinette because it was interesting to know that she was the last queen of France. What surprised me the most was the famous quote "let them eat cake" was false. I also wanted to write about her because when I went to France, I heard she had done bad things to France. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette
http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-marie-antoinette
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastille

What it's like to be the baby in the family

It’s said that being the oldest in the family comes with much freedom and responsibility. I’ve always wondered what that’s like because I come from a family where I am the youngest of four. Being the youngest of four has many advantages and disadvantages. One of the best things I’ve gotten from my siblings is that I can observe the mistakes they’ve made and learn from them. I know what buttons not to push and how to go about situations.

As well as learning from my siblings mistakes, I’ve also gained a few more advantages. Even though my siblings and I aren’t very close in age, they have my back and I can look up to them for help or advice. My oldest sister, for example, has always been somewhat of a leader. If I’m stressed about a test or about writing an essay, she is someone I can go to for advice.

Although I’ve attained many positive advantages from my siblings, there are also disadvantages that I’ve stumbled upon. Siblings are known to argue and tease each other. When I was younger, my brother and I fought almost everyday. He saw me as an easy target to make fun of and he could blame me for things I didn't do. I was also very gullible and both of my siblings could take advantage of that.

Another big disadvantage I face is comparing myself to my siblings. I’ve always been very strong with athletics, especially soccer, whereas my siblings are highly intelligent. I often compare my achievements to theirs and worry if I will ever be as smart as they are. As well, I generally worry if my parents are comparing me too my siblings and if I will ever be good enough to meet their standards.

Even though I haven't always loved being the youngest, I wouldn't think of changing my situation. I've learned from my siblings mistakes and I can always look up to them for support, even when they try to tease me. My siblings have helped me become more mature and have made me the person I am today.

Lacrosse

Lacrosse

        Lacrosse is my favorite sport. A combination of basketball, soccer and football, the aggressive game is played with finesse, agility, and strength.
        I've played lacrosse since 3rd grade and loved it ever since. I was fascinated by how a sport could be played differently for every participant. It can be played with stick skills and soft hands, or it can be played with brute strength and speed. As you can probably expect, the best players have a combination of all four attributes.
        I can guess that some of you may know little to nothing about the sport of lacrosse, so it may be surprising just how competitive the sport is at the junior level. Every weekend, club teams from all over the country fly in to play at massive complexes with 40+ fields. The best players will attend camps and showcases to hone in their skills and gain attention from college coaches. While most competitive players play all year round, I find that I have the most fun in the spring.
     

       Lacrosse is a spring sport. This means that the spring is when college and professional lacrosse takes place. I can watch high level games and follow scores which doubles the fun. Another great part of the spring is the recreational and low level select lacrosse that I participate in. With very little pressure compared to off season club lacrosse, I can relax and just play.
        In the spring, because my school doesn't have a team, I play for Lincoln lacrosse. Lincoln is the public high school of the district that I live in. I play for their youth division select team. Lincoln, and most other teams, have both select and recreational teams. While you have to try out to make the select team, anyone can play on the recreational teams. Last year, in 6th grade, I played select. It was my favorite season of lacrosse that I have ever played.

        Lacrosse is my favorite sport. A combination of basketball, soccer and football, the aggressive game is played with finesse, agility, and strength.

Is Technology good or bad for school?

       Technology can do many good things, and help with education. On the other hand, there are many bad side effects to tons of screen time. So the big question is, is technology good or bad for education?
       Technology at Catlin is everywhere. In almost any classroom there is a class set or 2 of computers, a projector, and maybe some I-pads. Technology is great for learning. There is stuff like Haiku for knowing what the homework is. Also many other things online to help make it easier for teachers to make assignments like Big Ideas Math or Google Classroom. Also there is less paper being wasted. Technology can help teachers and students a ton if you don't use it a ton.  

No Pencils anymore!

       Technology helps me a ton. I have bad handwriting, so I can just type and I don't have to worry about good handwriting and can focus on the content. I also get access to tons of information. For example, if I was studying Saturn, instead of buying a ton of books I could look up Saturn and it comes up with 12 million results. Out of that I could gather way more information then going to get a few books. It also helps me keep track of everything. Instead of keeping stuff I write in my binder where it could get lost I could just go in google drive and store all my documents. I can also just go onto Haiku to know my homework. Teachers also can make a class more fun by showing us a video of the information that we are learning. Over all technology has revolutionized Catlin Gabel and made class more fun.
       The stuff above is great, but screens also have their downsides. Screens leak some radiation that causes DNA fragments, and other health concerns. The amount that a person under 18 should spend at max is 2 hours(http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/tv-habits.html). Now think about how much we spend on a screen a day at Catlin Gabel. About 1/2 of the day in the middle school is spent on a screen. For a full school day, it is from 8-3:15, so 435 minutes. That means we spend 3.6 hours on screens in a regular school day. At home I usually have 45 minutes of homework, and spend 45 minutes doing other stuff on a screen. That means on average, I personally spend 5.1 hours on a screen a day. Over two times the recommended amount! over 4 of those hours were not my own choice. We spend way too much time on a screen at Catlin Gabel.
       In conclusion, technology can help a ton, if you don't spend too much time on it. It helps teachers to teach and students to learn. It helps give tons of information and saves trees. If you use it too much it can cause DNA fragments though. If we don't spend too much time on it, technology is useful and makes class extremely fun.

The Misunderstood Shark

                Sharks of all kinds are feared by the human race. Personally as a person that loves sharks is worried for the future of sharks. I first discovered I liked sharks when my family brought me to the Natural History Museum in New York City. Mostly I was bored until we got to the ocean exhibit, thats when my eyes widened. I started running around looking at all the different plastic creatures and the I turn around and I see this massive jaw filled with razor sharp teeth. Im sure I tried to touch it and my parents quickly stopped me from getting a nasty cut but who knows. From that point on I new I loved the ocean and I especially loved sharks. 
               Right now there are approximately 470 known species of shark in the world, but it's impossible to count the exact number of individual sharks on the planet.World Wildlife Fund estimates that more than 100 million sharks are killed each year for their fins. An d guess how many humans are killed each year… 26 was the most reported deaths in 2010. A vending machine is more likely to kill you that a shark. 
              Sharks live everywhere, they rang from Antarctica to Australia. They are everywhere. Now I don't mean to scare you but almost everywhere you go that is near the ocean, theres a shark. And you shouldn't be scared anyway, if I were to ask you right now why you were afraid of sharks, more than half of you will say something along the lines of "They eat people" or "they are blood thirsty flesh eating demons. or somewhere in that zone. But really they aren't hostile creatures.
             Sharks of all kinds have pretty common diet. they are all carnivores, But people have actually found some pretty wired things inside of a sharks stomach. here is a small list of things scientist have found in side a sharks stomach; Polar Bears, Reindeer, Licenses plates, Tires, Chicken coop complete with chickens, A full suit of armor, a fur coat, rubber boots, porcupine, video cameras, a horse head, and a bag of money. Now thats just a few things. You can probably imagine what else they eat. I guess they eat anything except for their veggies.
            Sharks have bad reputations because of movies and stories. The one movie that you always think about is… you guest it JAWS. Jaws was the first movie that really set off the whole flesh eating shark craze. Jaws is about this 25ft shark that is thirsty for blood and the main character, Brody, to save his town from this "monster" I won't say much more but there were sequels that just increased the fear with sharks.       
             Due to movies like this sharks are facing extinction. Over 1 million sharks are killed each year. People will either kill them for sport or some ail kill them for a tasteless soup made with their fins. It is a tradition in some countries to eat shark fin soup but is it really worth it? How they do it: First they catch the shark, cut off its fins and throw the animal back into the water to die slowly while bleeding uncontrollably. They leave the poor thing on the bottom of the ocean to die. 
       My goal is to make shark finning illegal all over the world. They have already done this in a few places fro example it is Illegal to shark fin in that state of hawaii. If sharks keep getting killed at this rate they will be gone in the next few decades. We need to stop this. You can help by going to here and donating even just $10 to help them stop this. I have done this, WWF is an great foundation to help. I hope you will learn to love sharks just as I did.

Thanks,
Sophie

How to Get Your Mind Off of HW

How to Get Your Mind Off of HW

         Cracking the two eggs into the bowl I notice a fleck of orange-brown shell in the sticky, chocolatey mess. Sticking my fat fingers through the oily goop I close my fingers around the shell and pull it out of the mix. Brownies are my all time cooking masterpieces, chocolate, double chocolate, chocolate chip, all my masterpieces. Taking the shiny silver whisk I stir it through the sludge like food. My arm grows tired but the tiredness fades away, pushed out by my excited mind as I poor the sugary heaven into a glass tray. Grabbing the handles, my hand slipping slightly I open the oven and stick it in the oven. Immediately I get blasted with a gust of hot air, putting the timer on for about half an hour, my work  is done.
         Mouth watering, I take the perfectly cooked brownies out of the oven and let it cool. Fifteen minutes later my family and I attack it, sticking the gooey and extremely chocolaty mess in my mouth my tastebuds go crazy.
All of these reasons is why cooking is one of the best things to do if your hungry, stressed, or bored of sitting at a desk at school. This is why cooking is one of the best ways to pass time.
           Ever just wanted to get messy? If you do this is how. Cooking is one of the best things you can possibly do besides reading. For one it is a great stress reliever, its educational in a fun way, and the most important, you get to eat it! Baking and cooking relieve stress by taking your mind off of the work at hand and give you something fun and enjoyable to explore. It is so much fun especially working with other people. It creates a fun environment and really brings out the creativeness in people. Getting messy? Awesome! Baking brownies, cookies, cake, biscuits the possibilities are nearly endless. Creating new dishes as you go along.
         Who knew that chocolate cheesecake would taste so much better inside a dish of cookie dough? Learning boring knowledge at a desk might not be fun but when you are cooking you can discover different chemical reactions, and things you never knew. For example who knew their was a cane sugar called jaggery? I bet you certainly didn't. Learning so many new ingredient recipes you can enjoy an easy experience of awesomeness. Eating it is the best part. Sure you can feel proud about the work but just imagine putting a forkful of chocolate cake into your mouth. Feeling the flavor flood your tastebuds as the rich frosting explodes in your mouth. Bite after bite of the rich, sugary heaven.

https://www.google.com/search?q=jaggery&espv=2&biw=1330&bih=812&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiumsiMs_LRAhXIi1QKHZS3DgQQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=IPs9m9wtUVyREM:

https://www.google.com/search?q=chocolate+cake&espv=2&biw=1330&bih=812&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiKztyBtfLRAhXjjFQKHZRMDhkQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=1nghjtT9bHdOfM:

How Sneakers Can be Insanely Profitable

Sneakers. Everyone owns a pair, whether they’re for exercise, wearing around, fashion, or a combination of the three. Or you own 2,500 pairs.

Source: 

http://iqbkkd2tcm3u6mnv1c41azk6.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2014/07/Sneaker-Collection-16-700x357.jpg

Introducing sneakerheads. The sneaker fanatics who campout for releases days in advance. The ones who spend $1,200 on a pair of sneakers they will never end up wearing. I know what you’re thinking. Why would they do this? Why buy another pair of Adidas Yeezy Boost 350’s instead of paying rent? Some do not do it for the sneakers, though. Some do it for the money.

    The largest corporations, such as Nike, Adidas, and Puma to mention a few, control the entire market.

Source: 

https://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MK-BR353_JORDAN_G_20111228163651.jpg

When releasing sneakers, these corporations control the supply of the sneaker, therefore controlling the demand of it. The fewer pairs being made, the more exclusive the pair, the more people want the pair, the higher the resale price. Strategies like supply and demand decide the amount of ¨hype¨ surrounding a release. When a release is ¨hyped,¨ everyone wants them. This is an image of people lined up outside of a Foot Locker, waiting for an upcoming Air Jordan sneaker release. This happens every weekend! With more limited releases, such as the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350, pictured below, people line up for days in advance. Days in advance! They take the week off from work just to buy a new sneaker. Why?

Source: 

http://static.highsnobiety.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/instagram-stars-with-adidas-yeezy-boost-350-0.jpg

Source: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/11/24/11/3AB0E30A00000578-0-image-m-34_1479986386104.jpg

This is a graph I created showing the performance of three things over the last two years. One, the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350, a highly coveted Adidas sneaker made with musical artist Kanye West. Two, Amazon’s stock (AMZN,)  and three, Apple’s stock (AAPL.)

The end product is incredible! If you had bought a share in Apple stock two years ago, you would be down $9. June 2015- June 2016 was a bit of a rough time for their stock. This graph was created before Apple announced 2017's Q1 earnings, which shot the stock up 6%. Amazon, on the other hand, would have earned you almost $400. This is a dollar value most people would be happy with, especially the fact that the price nearly jumped 200%! This is good, but when you look at the shoes it just blows your mind! If you had purchased a pair of Yeezy Boost 350 ‘Turtle Dove’s’ when they released in 2015, paying the retail price of $200, you would now have a sneaker worth just over $2,000! That means the price for them has grown 1000%. Selling them now, you would walk away $1,800 richer. For just a pair of shoes!

    Numbers like these draw lots of people to the sneaker game, intrigued by the $1.2 billion, yes $1.2 billion, unregulated resale market. Although it is harder to get your hands on 500 pairs of sneakers compared to 500 shares of stock, the returns from sneakers can be much higher.

      The idea of getting rich of sneakers is neat, but it’s also important to remember that sneakers are just footwear. There have been tragic incidents involving people being killed over their sneakers, and it is important to remember that your life is higher than your sneakers.

Source: 

http://cdn-s3.si.com/s3fs-public/2015/12/13/sports-illustrated-your-sneakers-or-your-life-inline-vault.jpg

To wrap things up, the sneaker resale market is a very intriguing and cool thing, with the opportunity for huge returns. Amidst all this excitement, it’s important to keep priorities straight and know what’s important.




















Picture Credits:

Yeezy Boost 350:
 http://static.highsnobiety.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/instagram-stars-with-adidas-yeezy-boost-350-0.jpg

People Lining Up for Sneakers:
 https://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/MK-BR353_JORDAN_G_20111228163651.jpg

Sneaker Collection:
http://iqbkkd2tcm3u6mnv1c41azk6.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2014/07/Sneaker-Collection-16-700x357.jpg

People Lined up for Yeezys:
 http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/11/24/11/3AB0E30A00000578-0-image-m-34_1479986386104.jpg

SI Cover:
http://cdn-s3.si.com/s3fs-public/2015/12/13/sports-illustrated-your-sneakers-or-your-life-inline-vault.jpg

Why I do sports.

Why I Choose To Do Sports

              Sports are a significant part of America's culture and I choose for them to also be a part of my life. I have always wondered how some people decide not to play sports, because for me, it is an outlet where I can let go of what I'm feeling and do what I love. After I am done playing, I always feel incredibly good and accomplished. I play three sports and I love them all equally: tennis, cross country, and track.  


                When I say sports are an outlet for me, I mean that I can put my emotions into what I'm doing and, not only does it make play better, but it also helps me manage my feelings.  For example, in tennis, if I am angry for whatever reason, I can keep that thought in my mind and it will make me swing harder. I take my emotions and kind of convert them into energy. Studies show that exercising can help decrease mild depression, anxiety, stress, and can even help relieve trauma. After I am done with my lesson, I feel less worked up about the situation and it becomes easier to resolve. 

           

                   Another reason I do sports is because I feel better about myself and my body when I consistently commit to doing it. If I am on vacation and I choose not to run, during the day I will feel lazier and not want to do many things. According to Heart.org: "Without regular physical activity, the body slowly loses its strength, stamina and ability to function well." I think this is because of the lack of moving around and getting out of that stage where you don't want to get out of your home.

           



                 After I'm finished doing a sport it makes me more focused at my next activity and also makes it easier to get enough sleep. Sometimes when I am doing homework or learning in class I feel really energetic and I don't know what to do with the energy. That makes it hard to process the information I am getting. This is one of the reasons we have PE, lunch, and break. The Spark PE website declares that having PE can lead to "enhanced concentration and attention as well as improved classroom behavior." So we can get out all of our energy and become able to learn. I can also get more sleep from playing sports because I am drained of energy so I can fall asleep right away.

     
                   I asked my mom if she played sports when she was younger and she said no. She said that not exercising made her feel disconnected from her body and less strong. "After I discovered exercising, I had more energy, I felt confident and strong." This is why I choose to do sports and I would encourage others to do the same. Playing sports and exercising helps you interpret your emotions, feel better about yourself and and your body, focus in school and home work, get more sleep, and just to be a happier healthier person in general.

"Run often, run long, but never out run your joy of running." - Julia Isphording

Sources:

• https://www.helpguide.org/articles/exercise-fitness/emotional-benefits-of-exercise.htm
• http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/PhysicalActivity/StartWalking/Physical-activity-improves-quality-of-life_UCM_307977_Article.jsp#.WI5hhDtlmi4
• http://www.sparkpe.org/blog/how-physical-activity-affects-academic-performance/

Music inside the Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was a time of making improvements, and was a "complete and radical change." Primarily, the Industrial Revolution was about replacing hand tools with machinery. But there was another, smaller revolution alongside this Industrial Revolution.

For many years, a period of music known as the Classical era thrived, featuring famous composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn. From symphonies to solo concertos for stringed instruments, these prolific prodigies eventually became some of the most recognized composers in the classical music world. But during the start of the 19th century, compositions started displaying more emotions and expressiveness. With these new additions to music, the Romantic era had begun. The Romantic era brought forward many widely known composers who continue to have their masterpieces played all over the world.

A portrait of Mozart composing music

Recently on the cello, I played a piece by Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) that contained many characteristics from the Romantic era. These characteristics included more lyrical melodies, wider contrasts of dynamics, technically virtuosic passages, and more freedom in the structure of the music. Pieces can really reflect on the composer's generation, but, after they pass away, they are not present to tell the story of the music. It, therefore, becomes the performer's job to portray a story, be it the story that the composer imagined while writing the work, or a story far from that of the composer. The important thing is to convince the audience of moods and characters, which is similar to convincing the audience in theatrical plays.

These two revolutions were important, transformational events that helped shape the modern world.

Frederic Chopin

Here is a recording of cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and pianist Emanuel Ax playing a piece by Frederic Chopin:
Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax- Chopin Polonaise Brillante in C Maj.







Thank you to the following sources:
Industrial Revolution Image Source
Frederic Chopin Image Source
http://www.gramophone.co.uk/feature/top-10-romantic-composers
http://www.rpfuller.com/gcse/music/romantic.html

La La Land: How I Relate

   

 I have always loved movies. Watching them with my parents, friends, and relatives has always been fun. I saw a lot of good movies in 2016. I really loved the dark humor and charm of Deadpool and the intense action of Rogue One. One movie really stuck out for me, though. La La Land was probably not my favorite movie of 2016, but definitely my 2nd favorite and favorite drama.

    

       La La Land is about Mia and Sebastian, both aspiring artists in Los Angeles. Mia wants to be an actor, but while her friends drag her to parties with more people who dream to become famous, she longs for something more. Sebastian is a failing jazz musician who feels like jazz is dying off, and wishes to make his own club. They meet, and at first find nothing in common, but slowly grow close. This was a very believable plot, and another great thing about the movie is the music.    
             I've always also loved music. Just like Mia in the film, I thought jazz was only elevator music, and that it sucked. I was proven wrong by this film's music. While the music is just a deviation on the four main songs of this movie which are all accompanied with beautiful dance numbers, the way the musicians twist it makes all of the songs special in their own way. All of the dance numbers are done amazingly and I have now danced many times in my kitchen to this soundtrack.

        I could relate to how Mia and Seb felt because one of the movie's big points is that you sometimes have to give things up for something else you want. I won't spoil the movie, but that ties in big. I could relate because when I came to my new school, I gave up most of my old relationships with other classmates. I had to trade in these people I knew so well for complete strangers. In the end it all worked out, and I made new friends, but I feel like a stranger when I say hi to old classmates on the street. 
       La La Land was a uplifting film that has complete potential to be a classic. It was definitely a love it or hate it movie, though. Its resemblance to old Hollywood musicals had me hooked all the way through. While this movie is a romance, it isn't inappropriate for younger audiences. I would give this movie a 9 out of 10, with its sweeping soundtrack, beautiful dance numbers, and relatable story.  
        

Sources:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3GU8BzFEAdFSRjc8jZkL3S

http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/12/02/la-la-land-review?watch

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_La_Land_(film)

Is it Okay for Computers to Grade Your Essays?

Is it okay for computers to grade your essays?

Many people have different opinions. Grading essays can take a long time and be stressful for teachers. With new technology, some computer programs can grade your essays. The problem, of course, is the accuracy. If computers could grade essays better than teachers, every school would have computers grade essays. Computers can’t beat the comments that teachers make in the margins. Computers could be harsh for vocabulary and for how long a paragraph is. Teachers, however, can tell if a student is doing something cool or having a style when making an essay. An obvious pro for computers is the fact that it can grade essays instantly. For teachers, it can take a long time.

If a computer is grading a class’s essays, they would get them back the next day. If their teacher grades them, it could take a while. If students know that they're being graded by a computer, they could find out how it grades tests. If they do that, they could learn how to get an A on their essay. It’s good and bad. They learn the good qualities of an essay, but find out how to do good with a computer grading their test. Computers grade essays faster. If you’re making a draft, you can get a response in seconds. That leads to more writing, which ultimately leads to a better finished essay.

Now, the pros and cons. A big pro of a teacher grading essays is the accurate response. A computer can’t beat the notes teachers make in the margins. A con of teachers grading essays is how long it takes. The biggest pro of computers is the time it takes. It gives a score seconds after you copy in the essay. Compared to humans, computers are much faster. The biggest con of a computer is the accuracy. It just can’t beat the notes and edits teachers make. Computers have trouble sensing any kind of style in an essay. If a teacher has time and isn’t stressed, he should grade the essay. If a teacher doesn’t have much free time on his schedule or is stressed or needs a break, let a computer grade the essays. Also, if the essays need to be back soon, a computer would be the best fit. Overall, humans grading essays and computers grading essays both have their own pros and cons.

Sources

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2013/04/25/can-computers-really-grade-essay-tests/?utm_term=.2738de0d3987

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/07/154452475/computers-grade-essays-fast-but-not-always-well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo5QblSn4gc

https://thetartan.org/2012/4/23/scitech/computer-grading

http://nancyebailey.com/2014/09/29/computer-essay-grading-v-student-journals/