Reflection

1. Some of the pieces I have done in Creative Writing was Food for Thought, wrote a book, flea market photos, paint chips, writing in the journal, and commenting on classmates posts, etc. Food for Thought was an assignment where we write a piece that is inspired by food. For that piece I wrote about my family because every time I think of food it's the moments with the family around the dinner table talking, laughing, and sharing old stories or planning for upcoming events. I also wrote about afternoon Sunday prayers because that's my favorite part about Sunday, I get to pray for others, connect with God, and also having dinner with my church is always the best way to spend the last bit of the weekend with. We also have a unit where we write books. My book was about my little baby brother on how he never goes to sleep early and always try to find anything he can do to avoid sleeping. I really enjoy making my own book it's always us to be very creative, but at the same time a great learning experience on how it's like being an author and making our own book.
2. One of the pieces I've read this quarter is the window poem by Lily. I really like this poem because it talks about childhood memories and how it can be the most memorable thing everyone cherish as we grow older and experience obstacles in our life. I love how she compare and contrast the point of view from the inside and outside of the window. Outside is laughter, joy, and happiness though inside the house it's filled with hardships and reality. Something I read out of class is called The Naturals, it's about 5 kids we are natural at detecting lies, profiling, and good with statistics. It was a book I can relate to because I wanted to be a psychologist or a profiler, but after reading this book I'm afraid to be a profiler because you can never know what will happen in any given moment.
3. When I was setting up my blog I was excited. I always wanted a blog, but never really know what would be the theme of it so I gave up on making my own blog, but I'm glad to experience having my own blog through Creative Writing. The struggle in making a blog was the theme because I want the pieces of my writing and images that was included with my writing to match the theme of the blog, but it was so hard to keep up with the theme so I kind of gave up. The name of the blog is my full name on documents cindy nhi phan. I decided to go with that because the blog would become something where I share my stories and my thoughts. I know some of my classmates read it through the comments they write on some of my posts though I don't have anyone specific that I want to read my blog for me the less the better. I'm not sure if I'm going to continue using the blog in the future, but I would definitely go back to this blog and read some of the posts.
4. Some things in my journal includes: writing assignments, rough drafts, magazine cut-outs, paint chips, drawing, my thoughts, and my childhood stories. I think I would want my mom to read it because then she would be able to know my more and see how much I have grown from the elementary and middle school girl I use to be. I think I would continue to journal, but it's more creative than just writing on a piece of paper. I decided to make make videos has a way of journaling. I'm not really good at being specific when I'm writing so if I look back on it I wouldn't recall a full memory of my experience that I would journal. So making videos allow me to look back on my memories by watching videos I have made and rather than telling stories to my children, niece, or nephew in the future I can show them videos which is much easier.
5. I'm thankful that I was born normal. Normal meaning I am able to see with my eyes, I'm able to smell with my nose, I'm able to write with my hands, and I'm able to walk on my own two feet. I'm thankful for the family I have even though they're annoying and a bother sometimes. I am thankful for coming home and see that my family is happy and healthy. People I am thankful for? Well there's God, my grandparents, my parents, my siblings, my cousins, my friend Marissa, Michelle whom I look up to as a kid, my elementary school teachers, I can never thank them enough for making me who I am today. Now random things... I am thankful for Iphones, Netflix, hot chocolate, music, blankets, beds, clothes, makeup, perfume, mother's amazing foods, road-trips, travelling, going to school, spring, summer, fall, winter, books, soft rugs, nail polish, lakes, roller-coasters, movie theaters, amazing art, microwave, oceans, flowers, dogs, and cats.
6. You want to scream at the top of your lungs. You want to be heard, but that's not possible. You have to be silent. The less you speak the more you won't get hurt. Although you feel like you're alone. No one is there for you. No one, but yourself. You tried to be passive because he might like you more. You tried to be more kind, softer, and quiet. You even tried acting like someone you are not. Is it worth it? Probably not, but did you stop? No. You want to tell anybody, anybody that would listen, but you don't want to deny the fact that you still love the man that once broke your heart. So you promise yourself that you don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody you once loved. 
7. I think I would make scrapbooks in the future filled with memories and so I can give them to my friends and family. I get to be relax while writing and crafting for my scrapbooks. Other writings like essays are stressful because it's about a boring topic and we have to make it perfect with so many resources. I remember English 3, it was the most hardest class I have ever taken in my life.
8. Some of us our senior in this class and I wish with this part of our journey that is almost coming to an end I hope their next journey in life would be full of happiness and great adventures. I hope the keep on continuing to write because writing allows us to be more stress free, so I recommend that they should write as much as they can.

Food for Thought

At family gatherings there was always so much food to the point where by the end of the night everyone would be able to bring a whole meal home. Though some people would think we waste food or just cook too much, but having 20+ family member wasting food or having less food is not an option. My uncles and aunts love to cook especially when it comes authentic Vietnamese cuisine. I grew up eating authentic vietnamese cuisine and just several years ago when my uncle and aunts move to Missouri from Vietnam they would cook weird food and I would ask my mother what is this and she would say it's authentic vietnamese food, so I guess I didn't try all authentic vietnamese food. When I think of food I would instantly remember of my favorite time which would be afternoon prayers. My church have afternoon prayers almost every Sunday and it consist of going to the members of our church homes and pray for their love ones that have passed away. After prayer the family that we pray for would invite the church to stay and have dinner. I enjoy it because I get to pray for others, connect with God, and also with the company of my family, relatives, and the members of the church having dinner together under one roof brings me joy and happiness. 

Children's Story Draft

Jaden, a mischievous little boy loves to do anything but sleep. 

"Jadeeeeen it's time for bed!" 

He saw his car toys on the floor, so he decided to be a car racer. 

"Vroom! Vroom!

"Jadeeeeen it's time for bed!"

He saw his cape, so he decided to be a superhero

"I'll save you!"

"Jadeeeeen it's time for bed!"

He quietly sneak out to the kitchen to eat some cookies

"Yummy! YumYum!

"Jadeeeeen it's time for bed!"

He grab his ninja costume on the chair and he decided to be a ninja.

"Hiyah! Hiyah!"

"Jadeeeeen it's time for bed!"

He ran to his room and decided to make animal shadows with his hands

"Woof! Woof!"

"Jadeeeeen it's time for bed!"

He decided to be a shepherd

"One sheep, two sheep, three sheep, fourrrrr sheeeep, fiveeeee...."

"Jadeeeeen it's time for bed!"

"Sweet dreams Jaden"


For my book I'm going to draw. 

About the Author

Originally from Stockton, California, Cindy Phan now lives in Missouri with her parents and five siblings. She is also author-illustrator of some bilingual children's books Le Poisson, Le Chien, etc.

Books for Kids

Title of Book: Quirky, Jerky, Extra Perky

Author of Book: Brian P. Cleary

Author Bio: he is the author of the best-selling Words Are CATegorical. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cover: It's orange with three different style of fonts and it has five cats around the cover.

# of pages: 30

List of characters: Mary and Glen

Setting(s): The beach, London, Greenland, forest,etc.

Summary: The book help kids understand what adjectives are. It is written in a style where the kids can be entertain. With the rhymes it contains in the book kids would not be bored of reading this book.

This book have animals as characters, use rhyme, teach a lesson, have creatures, use humor, have illustrations, use color, and lots of words per page.

Favorite sentence: "A wilted rose, a chartreuse vase, a cherry, kind, and florid face."

Age appropriate: 6 or 7 because there is more advanced words.

I would have liked this book as a kid because it's entertaining because of the rhymes it contains and I was able to learn about adjectives as the same time. 

Comments

I had the same experience as you when I was younger. I would pretend to be a superhero and go through obstacles around the playground, but when I got to the monkey bars I wasn't thinking and just climb up the ladder and started to go on the monkey bars. Then I realize I wan't that strong and before I knew it I was on the ground crying and I had to go to the E.R.

My favorite toy was also my little pet shops. I remember I would collect as much as possible.

I loved Junie B. Jones books as well. I remember when my class have library time I would always try to fast walk ahead of all my friends to make sure that I get the Junie B. Jones books that I wanted or else I would have to stick with rereading the ones I have already read.

Child's Play

21. When I was a child I was sweet, kind, and loud. As I've gotten older things definitely changed I wasn't able to see my grandparents as much as I want, but I did see my parents more in which to me was weird. Then my family move not to a different place or city, but to a different state. I didn't like where I was I didn't like the fact that we have to move to Missouri out of the 50 states. I couldn't adjust to this new lifestyle, it was different. Then four months later my grandpa pass away and I wasn't there for him. I didn't say my final goodbye and I hated that. The nest several years I was quiet. I wasn't quiet on purpose, it just came to me natural. I felt what was the point in talking when there was nothing to be talked about. The quiet I am the better because no one would ask me any questions related to me. 

25. When I was growing up my first language was Vietnamese. My grandparent raise me most of the time and they would speak in Vietnamese so I grew up speaking the language. I started learning English when I actually started school. I started speaking more English, but there is this rule in my family in which you're not allowed to speak any other languages beside Vietnamese in the house. Also we don't eat out at all when I was a child. I remember eating Vietnamese cuisine and that's all I ate. Also I really loved weddings growing up. The Vietnamese tradition when it comes to engagements is that the guy and his whole entire family has to go to the girl's house to ask her whole entire family for marriage and they would drink tea and have lunch together after the ceremony. For weddings it's really simple though we get married by the church and afterwards there is no receptions or anything. The after party would start around 8 and through the night. We also have Vietnamese New Years' and it's often in February. During Vietnamese New Years' we often would go toVietnam and visit relatives, but if we were not able to do that then we would go to our family and friends' house and greet them happy new years and hand out red envelopes. 

27. I have only "run-away-from-home" once. I remember my friend was over playing tetherball with my sisters and I at our house, but there was this new inventions that was really popular during that time in which was called wheeles, it was the type of shoes that has wheels at the bottom. My friend had forgotten her wheeles at home and she wanted to go and get it though she was afraid of going alone. She said her house was really close from here and that I should come with her. I agreed and we both jumped over the fence on the side of my house and walked to her house to get her wheeles. 

33. When I was a child I had everything planned out. I was going to graduate from this elementary school then go to this middle school and high school. I even knew what college I wanted to go at the age of 7 and knew what I wanted to be, which was a top surgeon. After having a career I would then be able to date and get married. I wanted a huge family when I was little at least 5 kids and one dog. I also knew what type of house I wanted and what kind of theme I had for the house. I also planned that my family and I would travel to somewhere every year. 

Keeping it real (like Dan)

#2. Three tips I would give parents about teenagers is 1) every teenage kid is different, so don't put them into the stereotype that all parents believe their kids are in which bad, rude, and disrespectful. 2) Parents should be close to their children, but not close as in best-friend there should be a line because you're a parent and you should be able to enforce them if needed. If you have the best-friend type of relationship it's easy to be a friend, but rather hard to be a parent. 3) Be there for them, you might think "well their grown up now you shouldn't have to worry" well you're wrong. Teenage years is the most crucial stage, it's where they are trying to find who they are and some can handle that, but some can't seem to find who they are or their way in life after high school. So focus on them as much as possible though you don't have to push them to do anything just watch them from behind is fine.

#7. I don't think you can know you love someone in three days. Three days? Impossible. Maybe the feelings the two individual have towards one another is stronger than they have for anybody else, but that doesn't mean it's love. Nowadays everyone think they are in love so fast that the meaning of love changes. People say 'I love you' in an instant, they move in with each other, and some have children before getting married. I'm fine with the couples that are successful in there relationship, but the average who have fallen in love too fast end up falling apart from one another. Some even start hating each other. That's what I don't get the most, you once dated someone and you truly "love" them but when you both separate ways you turn into enemies. I think love takes time, I feel love shouldn't be base on feelings only like in "Dan in Real Life" when I was watching it he only put is feelings towards everything and not is mind because feelings come and go for everyone.

#12. I don't like illicit love, it's not appealing to me. While watching Dan in Real Life I couldn't watch it after he met Marie. I don't like the plot story at all. I don't think it's right to have feelings for someone you shouldn't have for. If it's not right then it's not right. They don't think of the outcome all they were thinking was their feelings toward each other. I especially don't like it because Marie was Dan's brother's girlfriend and having these feelings behind the family while at a family vacation just grosses me out.

#22. I don't think life is full of disappointment to me I think life is a blessing. Yes, there are days where it doesn't go as you plan it to go, but we have to think of the positive side and not focus on the negative. I had a sub this one day for Anatomy & Physiology he said, "these are the best years of your life, be happy every single day." I think everyone should happy everyday just turn something bad into something good. To me how I deal with disappointment is just push it aside and move onto something that will make me happy.

"Reely" good quotes

White Chicks 

21 Jump Street 

Pitch Perfect 

Mean girls 

"Real" life

My favorite movie is called White Chicks. It's about two undercover cop pretending to be the rich and famous twins. They go on this funny so-like adventure to try to catch the bad guys while pretending to be a girl. I like this movie because it brings humor, laughs, and it's a movie I watch when I was little so it brings back memories. For me I'm not using into horror because there's really never a good one. I can watch it but usually it's only if I'm bored then I will watch. I watch movies mostly the time when I'm free and don't have any homework and I usually watch at Springfield 11 or at home on Netflix. If I was watching a movie in the movie theater I need to sit in the back and in the middle. I would also be eating nachos, popcorn, soda, and candies. If I was at home I would just sit on my couch with my blanket wrap around me and that's it. The survey says I'm 83% extraverted, 58% agreeable, 92% consientious, 42% emotional stable, 83% open to new experiences. 

Flea Market Photos

It was just my brother and I, just us to playing in the big dark house. We were not allowed to leave or enter in any other rooms without a command from them. Who are they you may ask? I have no clue. They were masks so we won't know there identity. But why us? All day we stay in our rooms in the dark. I don't remember when was the last time I actually saw my brother's face. We were in the same room but I was suppose to be on this side and he was on the other. If we pass the midline alarms would go off and we would receive punishments. Sometimes they would take us separately and let us sit in the dark room alone for hours and sometimes even days. One thing that they did was when we were being transported they would cover our faces so we don't see where we are going. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner? That I'm not certain. I don't know when I will have breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Sometimes I would get one meal a day or if they were being nice three meals a day. All-in-all I don't know how I was put there and I don't know how I escape from there, but I know for certain that I never want to go back there. 

Photos of the Millennium

I used to buy CD albums of the artist if I like their songs. Before IPods, you can only listen to the albums in certain places. You can play it in your car, computer, or if you want a compact and easily transported device you can buy a CD player. Though the CD player was big then the IPod nowadays, but it was really useful. I used to have one when I was in 1st grade, it was pink with pretty flowers design. One of the things I love was collecting albums from my favorite artist. Then the first IPod came out and it was the IPod nano. When I heard about it I wanted one so bad, but it was kind of expensive for my parents to spend and IPod nano for a 2nd grader. So I still kept using my CD player and sometimes would borrow my friend's IPod nano. Now I'm grown up, I kind of missing having a CD player and always going to the store to look at albums and seeing what I want to buy. Though I don't mind the advanced technology we have now. I just wish the generation after me could experience a childhood where there was no smartphones and IPod, etc,..

Photo Hunt

Introduced in 6th grade
Books, papers, pens, textbooks, coats, shoes, etc.
was put into the locker for save keeping
#Round

"Where's your ID?" as they keep sayings in the
halls. Four years I sum the total of spending on
IDs and temporary passes to about $20 plus.
#irritates

Role model is something everyone has, but
role models may be good or bad. Not knowing
we have to trust them to choose for themselves.
#handwritten

Used to send expressions through symbols
combine to look like a face. Now with advance
 technology we have what is called emojis.
#kidsinterest

Sometimes missing the court yard that allowed
students to go out and eat. Missing getting
some fresh air while at school.  Now sometimes
it feels suffocating because were trap for 7 hours.
 #interestingangle

This statue will always reminds me of being
at KHS. I will miss being a high schooler, but I'm
just ready to leave and adventure out to
somewhere new,
#KHS

A good read. Something to enjoy while having
some tea with a blanket covering you up
and glasses off.
#book

When I was little I used to wear vans all the time.
It was my favorite type of shoes. I spent about more than
5 pairs of vans by 3rd grade.
#memories

The science wing I think is the best out of the
whole entire school. I love doing labs and
dissecting. Learning interesting and cool things
about life and earth.
#light

By senior year I have finally found my favorite
teacher. She nice, kind, and her sense of humor is
what makes her lovable.
#thebestteacher

Hopper Inspired

Tonight is a cold, windy night with silence as everyone in town is sleeping. After a long day at work he went to the gas station to get a night snack for he knew himself that there wouldn't be dinner at home. He might as well fuel his gas up while he's there. He went inside and looked around every single aisle to see what he wants then he went up to the clerk and paid for his snacks and gas. He went outside and fuel up his gas with again silence and after he drove home. He parked his car on the driveway, went up to the front door, got his keys and unlock the door. He close the door behind him and hang his coat on the coat rack while at the same time taking of his shoes. He walks into the kitchen and warm up some cold milk. As he waited he took out his snacks from the bag and put it on his kitchen countertop. As the sound of beeping tells him his milk is warm he took it out of the microwave and set it on the countertop. He took out a piece of cookie and dip it in the milk. As he was enjoying his snacks he look across the room where there was a christmas tree with a sigh he looked away and continue to eat.

Window Poem

Straight ahead is

a plain field that

stretch on and on

My twin focusing

on driving

Each time a different

weather, different city,

and different state

Sometimes lingering feelings

of attachments is worst

than letting go

As for today it's

sunny

In the distance far

ahead without a doubt

my destination awaits

Artwalk

It was a picture with three beautiful trees with the style of painting it feels like you have to guess what it is, but with the beautiful colored pink leaves I believe it to be a cherry blossom tree with the grass as green as ever. The gleam from the sun makes everything seem so much brighter and noticeable. The style of the painting is Monet. To me it's my favorite style of art. I feel like the artist loved art, but doesn't like well-defined lines because life is not defined and i feel this piece of art symbolizes that. It reminded me of the garden my grandpa used to adore. Everyday he would walk around the garden admire it and would plant and grow some more. I grew to love flowers even more after he passed away I guess because it reminded me so much of him that I just have to stop and admire each and every flower that I see. My favorite flower would be a simple rose. It's the most common so I have a much more admiration for it. Usually for other people they like the one that is rare, so when it's given as a gift it would be much more special, but to me simple it better. 

Haiku:
Three beautiful trees
With grass as green as ever
And gleamed with sunlight

Fate

From two different countries, two different beliefs, two different ethnicity, and two different lifestyle somehow managed to be entwined in what can be known has fate. Now standing in a cathedral about to be wed. Is it love? Is this real? Yes. No. Yes. Wait no. Running out of time " Do you take her to be your lovely wife? I do. "Do you take...." Fast, run fast as possible to get away from there. It's not meant to be and it was never meant to be. 

Only you

The building as tall as the sky with beautiful architecture that gives joy to the eyes of the people. With each step it draws in the building closer and closer. Right before the eyes there is a extravagant painting above on the ceiling. Wanting to touch it, but it's impossible. Just sitting there in the church and looking up. There thinking of how much your life as been painted into an image. Then tears drip down as you realize loved one is all gone and it's just you and you and only you left. 

Comments

I think you're story was great! I actually though at first that it was about you, but then I realized it was just a story. You're writing was really good because I was really intrigued while I was reading it.  

I can relate to Dodie Smith. When I was little I wanted to be an actress, but as I am growing up I feel like that's the impossible. But as people say nothing is impossible so I'm not sure to give up or not.

I really like how you format it to like a journal entry. The story was really good! I definitely enjoyed it!

I also like to be on my bed with no lights only the lamp by my bed and with no glasses. Just having the book up close with no glare from the glasses frame is the best!

I agree, I think when we talk about negative things it makes things more negative. For instance, if we are gossiping about a rumor is would then spread somehow making it more of a big deal that it already wasn't. It might lead use sad or even upset, so yes I do believe if we talk about negative things it will give it too much power and can affect us in a harmful way.

I really like the story, it reminds me of AP Psychology when we watch a movie about a doctor trying to help the patient. 

That's a really interesting question. I also had that question as well like what is my purpose and why I am here. Am I suppose to seek my purpose or am I suppose to wait for my purpose to appear in front of me. I ask those questions sometimes though it becomes to deep and I can't find the answers to that, so I stop seeking or the answer and go with the flow. 

Your dream is very interesting. If I had that dream I would be to scared to even try to walk back in the house, but I'm also curious as to whether had happen to that little boy. 

I really like your Haiku, I wish that was me right now just sleeping for a very long time. 

I really like this, it's very meaningful and very deep. My favorite line is "Today, I stand up to this oligarchy. I use words instead of strength."

Artist Profile: Andrea Pozzo

Andrea Pozzo, the son of Jacopo Pozzo and Lucia Pozzo was born in Trento, Italy on November 30, 1642. He studied Humanities at Jesuit High School and started his training to become an artist with his father help by receiving artistic training from Palma il Giovane. 

During Pozzo lifetime/ career the Thirty Years' War was still happening, King Charles was beheaded, War between English and Dutch started, Edo Burns in Japan, and plague arrive in Marseilles, France. He didn't struggle or have a lot of challenges because he loved to paint. One of his hardest and most precious work was the painting of the ceiling of the St.Ignatius Church, he also traveled too much, and his many challenges was painting big beautiful ceilings.

One thing most people might not know about Pozzo is he is also a writer and an architecture. 

He mostly stayed in one style of painting, which is Baroque. His painting is associated with Catholicism of the Counter Reformation. 

His three famous work are Church of Sant'Ignazio, Frescoes, and Ljublijana Cathedral.

The two piece by Pozzo that I like is The Glorification of Saint Ignatius, which is a beautiful painting on the ceiling of a church and The Deeds of Hercules and his Apotheosis, which is also a painting on the ceiling of the Hercules Hall in a palace.