"Speaking of Courage"

In “Speaking of Courage” as well as other chapters in the book, O’Brien illustrates not only solider’s fear during the war but solider’s courage as well. In the chapter “Speaking of Courage,” O’Brien tells the story of Norman Bowker. A solider who I consider to be courageous. O’Brien writes about the time when Norman failed to save Kiowa from the sh*t field. Many would say that his action is not courageous and is the reason he didn’t even receive the “Silver Star” award. However I think that Norman was courageous for trying to save Kiowa regardless of the situation and place he was in, and for other things he did during and after the war. This chapter is set up as a post-war story. We begin to see Norman’s life when the war is over and his ability to deal with it. The war changed him and unfortunately Norman couldn’t move on once the war was over. Norman also kept things after the war, one thing I believe he kept was courage.

Although we see a non-courageous Norman for not saving Kiowa’s life and for killing himself, we see a courageous Norman in other aspects of the war. Norman earned 7 medals during the war, tried to save his friend Kiowa, and did his best to live his life as normally as he could after the war was over.

Norman needed other people to talk to about his accomplishments in order to feel courageous. If he had gotten that, he might not even have killed himself. As readers, we see more guilt, fault, and shame in the war more than courage. I believe that O’Brien portrays courage as accomplishing something that may be hard and making the right decision. Doing what is best no matter what the outcome may be (killed himself) is truly an act of courage.

Some soldiers carry courage with them through the war and continue to build on it based on experience. O’Brien shows more courageous/cowardice moments throughout the book. He shows this when O’Brien goes to war regardless of the way he was feeling, when Curt Lemon gets his tooth pulled regardless of his fear of the dentist, and when O’Brien kills one of the enemy soldiers. Although these are all different situations, all show how one person chooses to do what is right, and makes them courageous no matter how much they didn’t want to do it/regretted it.

We don’t really know if this story is all true, but I think that it was courageous of O’Brien to include it in his novel in remembrance of Norman and Kiowa. 

Memoir Blog

   I read the memoir Game 5 by Anne D. She is a 13 year old girl from Pennsylvania who writes about the time her family went to a Pittsburg Penguins playoff game. The memoir is well written, especially by a 13 year old. The writer, Anne, accomplishes almost all of the goals of a memoir and covers almost all of the storytelling elements.

   The vocabulary and imagery used in the memoir helps the reader understand exactly what is going on and puts them in the arena that the writer is describing. Throughout the whole memoir, I felt as if I was actually at the game. The writer also uses a creative plot describing the overtime situation at the game. This not only leaves the reader suspenseful, but it also allows the writer to describe some of the feelings that her family and the people around her are experiencing. She also writes about her suspense and own feelings toward the game and continues to describe her own emotions after each important event in the game.

   The only thing that is missing from the memoir is dialogue between characters. Although there isn’t any dialogue, the descriptions used helps develop the characters. There are still facts as well as feelings from some of the main characters.

   Anne D. also covers all of the elements of a memoir. The memoir is written in 1st person about a specific event (playoff game) over a specific period of time (overtime). She also includes her feelings after the game. The memoir includes both the inside and outside story. The hockey game is described in great detail (many plays on the ice) as well as the feelings and thoughts of the writer and the people around her/at the game. The balance between inside and outside writing is excellent.

   The memoir includes a reflection after the game. Her feelings about the Penguins’ win stays with her after the game and into the city. She reflects on her experiences during the game and after the game is over. Lastly she leaves me, the reader, with an understanding of the significance. This relates to my personal experiences. I can relate to what she feels, having gone to many hockey/hockey playoff games before. I know the energy that she is describing and I know the feeling to win/experience a win. 

“I also know that because of this game the Penguins were not just prepared to play the Philadelphia Flyers,  but bloodthirsty, too. With the Flyers soon approaching, I knew I was.”

Vietnam War Blog

             Vietnam was divided after their war against France: a democratic South under Ngo Dinh Diem and a communist North under Ho Chi Minh. When the South refused to hold unification elections, the United States became an ally and financially backed Southern Vietnam. Initially, President Lyndon Johnson was the main figure in involving the United States with Vietnam. According to Kennedy Hickman with About.com, his perception was to just prevent the spread of communist aggression. Due to the fact that this war was the longest American war on history, other Presidents (Kennedy and Nixon) were not only involved, but had the same vision.

The Viet Cong (guerillas led by the Communists) began to battle the South Vietnamese government. To help combat them, the United States trained the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and supplied military advisors. When the Northern Vietnamese attacked U. S. destroyers, President Johnson felt as though he had no choice but to organize a full-fledged attack. Digitalhistory.edu’s account for the American involvement also included the notion that we were overconfident in thinking that our troops could deter the communist takeover of our ally and that withdrawing from Vietnam would only create political criticism at home. However, the U. S. kept getting in deeper and they could not just admit failure or back out that easily. It would make the Democrats appear weak on their views against Communism and would lower our Presidents’ chances for re-election.

What we failed to see was the Communists willingness to lose many people in order to overthrow the South Vietnamese government. With the Communist’s Tet offensive attack, the Americans were no longer convinced that continuing with the war was worth the effort. When Nixon won the election, he started to withdraw troops and after the large-scaled bombings, a cease-fire agreement was signed, and America finally withdrew from South Vietnam.

http://www.about.com/
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/

"Let America Be America Again"

Hughes’ poem “Let America Be America Again” depicts two perspectives: one of the oppressed and one of the free. For Hughes, America has never been this ideal land of opportunity. He speaks from the viewpoint of the oppressed. People have always been faced with discrimination and some still face it today. He describes that despite the injustices that go on, the will and strength of the oppressed remains strong. The oppressed are the poor, the Native Americans, the Africans, and the immigrants; but if it weren’t for their hard work, there would not be this “American Dream” of reaping the benefits of what you sow. Hughes is calling for a land of the free, where there are no people judging others. That everyone benefits from what they do. That everyone is allowed to achieve his or her own dreams. That America is for all the people, no matter what you are. I find the tone to be somewhat angry and irritated by the fact that why can’t people see others for whom they are and not by what they are. Hughes is criticizing the fact that if you are not given the ability or freedom to succeed, then how can you achieve opportunities to have a happy life?

The Great Gatsby depicts the life of rich, wealthy people in the roaring 20’s. The East Egg, those who inherited money “old money” and the West Egg, “new money”, divides them. Both sides looked down on people who were less wealthy, even the people of East Egg looked down on the people of West Egg. Jay Gatsby strives for the life of the “American Dream” because of how he came into money from nothing much. Although he did come into wealth, he did not have happiness, because he did not have friendship or love.

I feel that today, there are many things that divide our nation. Money plays a huge part because there are people who are beyond rich, and there are those who are in dire straits. However, the circumstances are not the same. Some people have lives that did not turn out the way they intended. Of course, there are those that still “step on others” to get to where they are. Of course, we all want the American Dream, but it is no longer just about money.

If Tom was our Narrator...

Pg. 130-131 (Conversation/Argument between Tom and Gatsby)

I was a little unsure of where this all was going until Gatsby told me everything. “Your wife doesn’t love you. She’s never loved you. She loves me.” That killed me. A man who I have barely even known accusing my wife of loving him. Then Gatsby cried, “She never loved you, do you hear? She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake, but in her heart she never loved anyone except me.”

I knew something was up ever since I saw their eye contact. But at the same time I didn’t believe it. Daisy has never spent time with him until recently and after all he is a “bootlegger”. Daisy has always loved me and if not, she would have left me after finding about my affairs. But I couldn’t help but to wonder what was going on between them. 

I turned to Daisy and asked her, “Whats been going on? I want to hear all about it.” “Both of us loved each other all the time, old sport, and you didn’t know. I used to laugh sometimes.” she said. “But there was no laughter in his eyes. To think that you didn’t know.” 

At this moment, my heart just dropped. I found myself leaning back on my chair ready to explode. I couldn’t believe what I have just heard. The thought of her loving someone like Gatsby killed me. His whole background is shady and I still don’t know when they could have seen each other.

“You’re crazy!” I shouted. I wanted to leave but at the same time wanted to hear more. I was so furious at them for even making up something as extreme as this. I finally said to Gatsby, “Ill be damned if I see how you got within a mile of her unless you brought the groceries to the back door. But all the rest of that’s a God damned lie. Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now.” 

My anger got the best of me because for a split second I didn’t know what to do. The feeling of having someone love someone else hurts. I can’t believe Daisy would do this to me. But I continued to wonder if she truly meant what she said.

The American Dream today

‘Downward mobility’ pushing American Dream out of reach

January 13, 2012

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/13/downward-mobility-pushing-american-dream-out-reach/

            The article that I read regarding the “American Dream” brought up the question whether or not the American Dream is still alive today. For many it is still achievable but for others it cannot be reached. The article goes on by using interviews and facts to prove which people do not think that the American Dream is still alive today and the factors that make them think that way. 

            A bad economy not only causes some people to loose their money, jobs, and belongings, but it also causes some to loose their outlook at the American Dream. Sam Blick (person interviewed who is unemployed) believes that the idea of the American Dream is still there, but he doesn’t see it happening for himself or some of his family. He doesn’t see himself enjoying any more vacations or luxuries which he believes is part of achieving the American Dream. This is also true for others who are currently unemployed. Although they believe in the American Dream, they do not believe that they can achieve it. 

            “1/3 of babies who are American born into the middle class have fallen out by the time that they become adults.” The article states that people with a college degree, people who have high test scores, and people who are married are more likely to stay in the middle class than those who don’t. They also have a better opportunity at achieving the American Dream. The article also shows that race and gender play a role in staying in the middle class as well.

            This connects to the Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby’s events in his life show how someone could achieve the American Dream if they work towards it. The American Dream is a sense of opportunities and freedom that can be achieved if you work hard enough. Gatsby was raised in the middle class and because of his wealth, was deprived of some things that he loved (Daisy). Throughout his life, he worked towards new opportunities but still does not believe that he has achieved them. Although Gatsby did not fall out of the middle class and even rose up to the upper class, he is still missing something important in his life. Gatsby’s as well as other’s American Dreams are demonstrated throughout the book. 

Music Review

For my music review, I picked an album/artist/genre of music that is relatively new to me. Created in the late 1990’s, dubstep became a genre that has become popular over the years. Dubstep is an electric dance genre that is based on the 2-garage sound. Dubstep uses a combination of drums, bass drops, rewinds, and MCs to make sounds that are used in various songs, rhythms, and instrumentals. There are many artists that create their own dubstep beats/sounds, but one that is well known is Skrillrex.

Skrillrex, or Sonny John Moore began his career in an American band, but later released dubstep tracks/albums. He became famous for his works recently and was nominated for 5 Grammy Awards in 2011. His most famous album is called Scary Monsters and Nice Spirites.

So for my review, I chose to review the album Scary Monsters and Nice Spirites by Skrillrex.

When I hear “dubstep”, I immediately think of Skrillrex. Before listening to some songs on this album, I was not a big fan of dubstep, however after listening to this album, I am hooked. The music makes you want to dance and pumps you up every time you listen to it. This album is perfect for warming up before a sport’s game. Each song on the album is unique in it’s own way and although has some lyrics, are mostly instrumentals. Each song also has a story/meaning behind it, (however I find some very pointless). Although some people do not like this genre of music, the Grammy that this album received for best dance/electronica album of 2011 does it justice.

Some songs on the album:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSeNSzJ2-Jw&ob=av2e Scary Monsters and Nice Spirites

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F21aifX0lZY&feature=relmfu Kill Everybody

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw-YjVp_ibQ Scatta

Winter Poem

The predicted snow finally came and

seemed to fall endlessly from the sky.

Into the night it continued to fall as I

fell asleep to blowing winds.

When morning came, I was in awe.

The world was completely still and white.

For the first time, I am not awaken by

the sound of cars driving by.

The world is quiet, even though I see

Neighbors, knee-high in snow shoveling.

The neighborhood was blanketed in

a never-ending stretch of white carpet.

The feeling of being overwhelmed,

is soon subsided by excitement.

Neighbors are helping one another.

Shoveling until you feel weak.

I watch from the window,

as my younger brother plays in the snow.

I am overcome with a feeling of

being extremely grateful.

Grateful for being in a warm house.

Grateful for getting to enjoy the snow.

I put on my snow pants and rush out

to enjoy this moment.

A moment that I will not forget.

Where Did You Go JD?

J.D. Salinger was an American author that was born in New York. He began to write at a young age and continued to write throughout parts of his life. He wrote many short stories and books, but the one book he is probably most famous for is The Catcher in the Rye. The Catcher in the Rye was a best selling book that not only won him many awards and sold over 65 million copies worldwide, but it was also one reason why J.D. Salinger went into hiding for a large period of his life.

            J.D. Salinger’s attitude is very similar to the main character in The Catcher in the Rye. Both J.D. and Holden have this sort of isolation from the world that they live in. Both characters also demonstrate their hatred for the “movies” and media. One reason why J.D. moved to his confinement was because of his hatred for attention. He turned down many pictures and interviews as well, because he didn't want anyone invading his privacy. Another reason was simply the fact that he didn't want anyone to gain off of his works. He didn't want anyone profiting off of his stories and refused to publish anymore. But the main reason why he left and stopped publishing was because of the criticism on his book. Although many thought of the book as one of the best, others saw it differently. Critics argue that the book shows the mental breakdowns of a teenager as he goes through his life. The psychological battles that he faces, the depression and loneliness, and the excessive spending are all reasons why some thought negatively towards the book. The book was also banned from some schools and libraries.

            Even though J.D. Salinger stopped publishing and went into hiding, I respect him. His own beliefs caused him to not get too caught in publicity. He took the negative comments on his book to heart, and in return left the world without publishing anymore. He wanted his own privacy. I believe that The Catcher in the Rye is a very interesting book that is well written.

          "I refuse to publish, There's a marvelous peace in not publishing, There's stillness. When you publish, the world thinks you owe something. If you don't publish, they don't know what you're doing. You can keep it for yourself."

                                                         -J.D. Salinger

Holden Caulfield: Protector of the "real" people

Up to chapter 16 in the book, we learn a lot about the main character and narrator Holden Caulfield. Holden is a 16-year-old student who has been kicked out of Pencey Prep for his failing grades. This isn’t the first time that he has been kicked out of school. Although he comes from a wealthy background, Holden is not considered popular in his school or in society.

As Holden describes his thoughts about people and the situations he is in and has been in, we learn more about his character. We learn that Holden has certain respect for people based on their classification to him and judges people based on their appearance and personality. He seems to be constantly be bringing up his idea of being “phony”. Throughout the book we see the quality of Holden protecting people who aren’t phony and judging people who are. It also brings up the question whether Holden could be phony. Holden is modest about himself, sarcastic in certain situations, and judgmental about people he knows or sees. He has his own way for looking at people. Although Holden does seem to have a good heart because he feels sorry for people that are not as privileged as him.

Throughout the book we also learn that Holden continues to lie but isn’t great at doing it. We find out that Holden is very lonely without others there for him and that he does have certain yearnings. Holden is also independent and chooses to do things that he wants to do. Holden tries to get others to believe he is tough, but in reality he isn’t. We learn that Holden has principles but in some situations breaks them. After reading the last few chapters, we learn more about Holden’s emotions. He seems to be really depressed all the time because of his loneliness. Holden does have a weak side and “yellowness” that prevents him from doing things. But mainly, Holden doesn’t know the right direction he wants to take in his life. With little people around him that he considers “real”, Holden is not sure of the path he wants to take with his life. Maybe he is the duck in the lagoon.

My Red Hunting Hat

          In The Catcher in the Rye, the main character Holden purchases a red hunting hat for one dollar. For some reason he is extremely attached to the hat and is constantly wearing it. Although we do not know the true significance of the hat yet, we do understand that the hat is worn when hunting deer, so that other hunters do not shoot you by mistake. The hat is a way of standing out. I believe that Holden wears this hat to stand out against the “phonies” in the world. It is Holden’s way of being different and being himself.

          I believe that the idea of the red hunting hat is not something that is really worn. I personally do not have an object like this. I think that the “hunting hat” purpose comes from an individual’s personality or traits. Individual actions truly describe what kind of person they are, and who they really are on the inside. It is also a way to distinguish who is a “phony” and who isn’t. The unique personalities and abilities that certain individuals have make them stand out against others. Although some kind of clothing like a red hunting hat will make you stand out, it is the talents and character inside of you that illustrates who you truly are.

Thankful for a Classmate

             

            Honestly I am thankful for all my classmates. Each person has their own personality that makes the class unique. There are some people that educate us, some that make us think, and even some that make us laugh. The mix of people in the classroom makes the class better.

            But if I had to choose individuals that contribute to this, it would have to be Kirkland and Sohrob. I am thankful for these two people specifically because they make the class and our discussions, more interesting. Both classmates aren’t afraid to express what is on their mind or knowledge they have about the world. The information that both Kirkland and Sohrob have is important in our class because they continue to share it with us. They extend whatever we are learning by educating us with what they know. Sohrob is a classmate that makes the class better because not only does he know something about most topics, but he is also extremely funny and can make whatever we are talking about more enjoyable.

            I think that everyone in the class make it better in their own ways. Kirkland and Sohrob make our discussions fascinating, but there are also other people who help the class and I learn. I am definitely grateful for everyone in the classroom.

Directions for our class

             I look forward to my American Lit class everyday. I really appreciate the things we do and learn in the classroom. I love reading and writing, especially in our journals, and enjoy our in class discussions. We watch movies and films that connect to our readings and talk/debate about almost anything.

However, I think that we should enhance our writings. Writing in our journal daily and discussing it is a way for us to not only get better at writing, but also a way to tell what is on our mind. Writing about different topics and sharing is a way that we can enhance our writing skills and learn more about our classmates and ourselves. I also think that we should do more activities in smaller groups or in pairs. Working with smaller groups is an easier way to get more information across to our classmates. I think that working in groups help us to learn more about the topic.

Writing our journal entries and working more in small groups are the only things that I think should be enhanced in this class. I don’t think that our class needs much more direction. We learn in an environment where we can express our ideas and learn from others.

A Theme in The Road

There are many themes presented throughout The Road. Not only the themes of devastation and isolation that is shown by the world they now live in, but also the theme of going far in the world if they remain the “good guys”. These themes illustrate the society they live in and how they are responding to it. However Cormac McCarthy shows a major theme of the book both in his writings and in some of his interviews. He shows the theme of gratitude, being grateful for what we have. As he states in his interview, “Life is pretty good, even when it looks bad. We should be grateful.” The world we live in is not like the world in the book The Road. We need to be grateful for that. We have access to everything we need to survive and with new technology we have so many more luxuries. This theme is also shown in the book. In a world where they have almost nothing, the man and his boy are grateful for the findings and items that they do have. They are grateful for each other and for their life. McCarthy might be telling us that we need to be grateful for the life and the things we have now. Even though death, survival, and loneliness are major themes in the book, the idea of gratitude shows a major theme both in the book and in the real world. Not many people are grateful for what they have and Cormac McCarthy uses this theme to illustrate the consequences in the future. We have to be thankful for the life we have now and live each day as if it were our last.  

Open Letter to Charles Bukowski

Dear Mr. Charles Bukowski,

I have recently read your poem Dinosauria, We, and found it to be very fascinating. The poem seemed to have shown me a glimpse of the future and it is amazing that you wrote it 40 years ago. I think it is incredible that you could have predicted what might happen in the world we live in. It’s a scary thought that part of what you said has come true. The ones with college degrees are unable to get jobs and the oil spills that have tainted the lives of many. That hospitals and lawyers are too expensive for many and that the government is so far in debt. I fear that the ending may become a reality. The fact that we are in war with one another is tearing our society apart. I fear that what you predict at the end may hold some truth to it. People have talked about the day the world will end, or otherwise known as “the second coming”. Is this just a fear of our own actions? Have we all become selfish and one without a conscience? I feel that maybe your poem has made people more aware of the situation, and perhaps it is not too late. I can only hope that we can all do our part to help save this world.

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                Devin Murphy

Father and Son Relationship

          The relationship between a father and his son or daughter is usually strong. Of course there will be some disagreements, but generally the bond between a father and his son is a good one. A boy looks up to his father and sees him as a role model. Both the child and his/her father are constantly learning from each other.  However in the society we live in, we are beginning to see more and more relationships that are not strong at all.

          In The Road, the relationship between father and son is unlike any other. In the post apocalyptic world that McCarthy creates, the survivors (father and son) will do anything for each other. If one of them were to die, the other would die as well. The father in the book is living only for his son. As it says in the story, “I was appointed by God to take care of you.” The boy would also be useless without his father. Both the father and the son are relying on each other throughout the book.

          The father in The Road also wants to give his son the best life he can give him, in the conditions they are in. Even though the life they are living is not a very good one, they are living each day to the fullest and trying to survive. The care that the father gives the son is great because we do not see this often in everyday society. He puts his son first and tries his best to give him the best experiences he can. He wants to make his son’s life as normal as he can and protect him no matter what happens. The father would sacrifice anything for his son.

“One of the strongest things in the world is the father/son bond.”

                                                                   -John Glover

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge?

I believe that John Proctor represents the qualities of a hero and a stooge.

John Proctors’ actions in the town of Salem make him both respected and feared. As an intelligent individual and a Christian, Proctor shows the qualities of a hero through his actions. Unlike the other characters in the book, John Proctor does not believe in witchcraft. He has a sensible way of thinking and won’t just believe something because everyone in the town does. He is also willing to give his own life to stick up for what he believes in. He is not afraid to stand up to people and doesn’t care what people think of him. John Proctor demonstrates his heroic traits when he confesses for what he has done. He also stands up for the girls accused of witchcraft.

The only thing that really makes John Proctor a “stooge” is his relationship with Abigail. He is married to Elizabeth and he sins by committing adultery with Abigail. This goes against the ten commandants and puts Elizabeth’s life in jeopardy. I believe he might regret it because he denies any feelings for Abigail to her face and to his wife.

           Even though John Proctor may have messed up in his life, he is human and everyone makes mistakes. I respect John Proctor because he is his own person. He chooses to believe in what he wants to believe and he will die for what he knows is right. I believe that John Proctor has done things that make him a stooge, but his heroic traits overpower them.

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

The title says it all. God is angry. We are all sinners. This sermon by Edwards really drew vivid images in my mind. If I were a young Puritan, I would have been pretty scared. I would have thought that even the tiniest wrongdoing would have me surrounded in flames. If I took a cookie before dinner, then I too, would be hanging by a thread over a fiery pit.

The God in the Christian faith is not angry. In fact, he is forgiving. People sin sometimes, but if they ask for forgiveness, they can still go to heaven. In fact, the h___ word is never used during a sermon. People should be good by nature, and not because they are scared into being good. What is considered “good” is by following the word of God.

I feel that perhaps the Puritans thought too much about what others were doing. There probably were a lot of sinners. They probably thought that they outweighed those that were good. They were probably in fear for their own lives because of what others were doing. Perhaps if we consider what is going on with the world today, we should all be afraid of what the future holds. Maybe a few people do need to be scared.

Out of District

In all my years of playing hockey, I have not come across this term. Of course I know what “out of district” means, it just never occurred to me that it would be a term used in club level hockey.

Last year, I decided that it was time for a change. I decided that I would check out a scrimmage camp in Northbrook. They had a couple of kids that really stood out. I really enjoyed playing at that level. I got along great with the boys from the team and they said that I should tryout. What I soon found out was that the Northbrook hockey program is a feeder program for the Glenbrook North High School hockey. It makes sense. You live in Northbrook, why wouldn’t you play for your high school? The problem is that when you have two players of equal talent, they have to take the Northbrook player before the “out of district” player.

So against all odds, I tried out. The Northbrook team has two “out of district” players playing for them…one of them is me. My teammates do not treat me any differently because I am “out of district”. Even though they have been playing with one another for years, they treat me as though I am “in district”.

This relates to the topic of “there goes the neighborhood” because it is like moving into a different neighborhood.

Introductions

Hey everyone my name is Devin Murphy and I am a freshman here at Whitney Young. I was fortunate enough to be an "ackie". My elementary school was Decatur Classical. I was born and raised in Chicago.
My family and I live in the Northwest side of Chicago, an area called Norwood Park.

I love to play sports, especially ice hockey and baseball. I have been playing hockey since I was 3 and currently play on a travel team in Northbrook. My team played against two teams from Sweden. Playing hockey is probably one of my favorite things to do.  I have one younger brother who is 10 years old. He also plays travel hockey and is a goalie.

My mother is Japanese and my father is Irish, making me a little bit of both. I also have a dog named Milkshake. My favorite food is probably sushi. I enjoy traveling to different places both on vacation and for hockey. I have traveled all over the U.S. and have been to Hawaii 4 times! This summer I went to Cancun, Mexico.

I also enjoy listening to music, reading, and writing. I am looking forward to this year and getting to know all of you.