Sacred Time at School

"Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

by Jospeh Doherty

    As I sit down in my seat I’m finally able to sit in beloved seats of the wise and old seniors. It was the first day of school and things were going great. As we walked in things seemed different, the mood was different and more sentimental. The hall was erie quiet; however, when students start to fill the hall it became a busy as bee hive. The seats with their bland color of brown look sad with all the seats being empty. The colors of bland tan represent the boring life of many students here. When the kids began to fill up the room show all the colors of the clothes of kids. The colors show the different activities and interesting lives of kids have. As I walk down the lanes all the memories flood back to me. Even the first day when I was on my tour, Presidential elections with Matthew, and regular all school meeting. When choosing my friends to sit next to I had to ponder for a while because I wanted to make a decision that will be a great pair for the whole year. I choose Daniel and Timo, whom have been very good partners so far. Timo is always cracking jokes and being a leader in all school meeting. Making announcements about the school store and sports. Even though Daniel hasn't been consistent with coming to school, but I still strongly believe that this was a good choice. When he comes to school it is always good time catching up on all of the things that we have missed. Even though the seats are bland and boring all the kids at school bring excitement to every part of the Fenn life

Reacting to People Who are Very Different from Yourself

by Joseph Doherty 

"Thus, then, in our hearts’ honeymoon, lay I and Queequeg—a cosy, loving pair."

-Herman Melville 

    When meeting new people it might be hard to know who they really are. This happened to me at Brantwood where we had a very diverse and different group go kids. When I first stepped onto the field of Brantwood I knew that it would be different experience from what I was used to. People coming from Jersey, New York, and Mass we were going to have a very diverse group.  It was when we first got to our cabin on the first day at Brantwood when I started to notice very differences in the way people acted. The first was the way that people had little respect for people that they didn’t know well. Though the wasn’t the case for all the kids. There were two kids in my cabin that didn’t show much respect for the consular and didn’t listen well. This was a shock because where I come from most kids are very respectful to everyone. Even though I didn’t need to adapt, but it was an eye opening experience. The kids weren’t bad kids, I still keep in touch and we have become good friends. Though the way that they treated new people was very different from the way that I have seen. Coming from different backgrounds can affect the way that you treat others. This can also be related to not judging a book by its cover because they are nice kids, but when they meet new people. In these experiences, I have to know the whole story because what is on the outside might not who they really are. Giving people a chance and not just instantly judging them on one thing that they might do different from you. Making sure that you have good sense of what the person’s true personality is before you judge them.

What kind of life do you seek? Would you rather be happy and ignorant--or wise?

 Joseph Doherty

    Is happy or wise the goal of life. For me I believe that the goal of life is being happy, even though that being wise has many advantages. Sometimes when I want to know what to do or when I need some advice I wish that I was wiser. I believe that even when you might have some better decisions when being wise. Overall I would have a better life when i am happy. Even if I’m ignorant I think that being happy has more upside to having a better life. When you are wise, you will know more and make better decisions. This question is not a black and white, people may see being wise different then others. For me I believe that when you are wise you will know more. Knowing a lot of the world you might know too much, causing you to be sad. Knowing that there is no way to advert a crisis or that the world will end is a heavy fate. For me happy is the key to everything, so I’d rather be happy and ignorant because that would quench my thirst for finding a goal to life.
 

    On a Child’s Christmas in Wales

by Joseph Doherty

    With Imagination anything can happen. Ones life is dull and boring without an imagination. Throughout this story there are many examples of imagination: hippos and the cats that were leopards and other furious creatures. Showing how much of his great memories came from his vivid imagination. It was a Christmas day and the kid and Jim were hunting for cats. In their in fur caps and moccasins were stalking their prey. hurling snow balls at any that showed, but their next experience would take their mind away from the cats completely because Mrs. Pothero was screaming for help from the inside of her igloo.  

This was better than all the cats in Wales standing on the wall in a row. We bounded into the house, laden with snowballs, and stopped at the open door of the smoke-filled room.

This is where his imagination and real life start to mix. even though these events are actually happening, but he is exaggerating the experience. Show how they loved hunting for cats with snowballs, but the fire was a whole new level of interesting. boring lives take over with out imagination, these boys probably would have just called the fire fighters, which I would have done. Instead, through their imagination they first went in , but when they seemed no match they called the real guys in. Life, is not dull, but exciting with an imagination. 

    The mind reacts to words when more interesting. In A Childs Christmas in Whales there is Image and Action and Muscular verbs that detail to the story. Since the story doesn’t really have a plot so he relies on smaller stories that mush together in a group of stories. They come to life by the descriptive word, so you are able to see the story and not just hear it. 

And I remember that we went singing carols once, when there wasn't the shaving of a moon to light the flying streets. At the end of a long road was a drive that led to a large house, and we stumbled up the darkness of the drive that night, each one of us afraid, each one holding a stone in his hand in case, and all of us too brave to say a word.

This story would be boring, but with the word choice the scene comes to life. The use of repetition shows the importance of the words. The sentence, “each one of us afraid, each one holding a stone in his hand in case, and all of us too brave to say a word.”  Shows the importance of each of us and all of us. Saying that they were a group and how they were all together in the same boat. All scared to start caroling to the old, big, and scary house. With image and action almost every word is image on image or image on action. With lines: “when there wasn’t the shaving of a moon to light the flying street.” Through the importance of repetition and importance of of good word choice that bring to life the story of his past Christmas Days. 

More Than Just a Christmas break 

By Joseph Doherty

“You must be in tune with the times and prepared to break with tradition.”

-James Agee

                    Traditions last a lifetime. Over the years our traditions have changed for Christmas Eve. Whether it be participating in the native play at church to eating risotto balls every year. Starting a young age Christmas was always dear to my heart, which probably came from getting gifts. It was Christmas 2016 when I first, realized that the`re was more to this holiday then gifts. It was the year after I had several deaths in the family. When It was December 24. I felt a distinct difference from the years of past. Family member not there made the house seem lifeless, with few people inhabiting it. Great uncles and an aunt gone from the equations. Even some of the small traditions were gone. From those years on,  judging Christmas on how good the presents were seemed ridiculous. I learned that Christmas wasn't about presents, but spending time with my family and cherishing past memories with relatives were the real gifts. Losing Family members was almost like losing a part of Christmas. My Aunt Debbie who would alway be beside my dad in the kitchen. Her famous risotto balls were always a show stopper bringing a silence to the room as people indulged in this once a year phenomenon. The their Uncles: Jack, Leo, and Ernie. who bestowed the children with stories on what there Christmases looked like. Creating a crowd as they told funny stories, and always dropping hints of wisdom. Now as I look at the rooms I can see the shell of what this holiday used to look like. This year things have slowed down not as many people come through the house; at the same time, my family starts to begin traditions of our own. Hopefully, we can start our own traditions that last for many years. In the words of Andrew Hienz, " Cherish the little things." 

How one fun game almost ruined my Fort-“night”    

by Jospeh Doherty 

“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”
― Jack London

    Seconds turn into minutes as I get sucked into the game. This game is “Fortnite”, even though at the end of the day we can talk about the wins that we had. This game has claimed many hours of my life, and I’m sure many others’. The once soft cushion is molded to my bottom, from many hours of not moving. The hours pass by faster and faster with every game I play. One Sunday before Exams I had finished the study packet that I was doing that night. Therefore, I decided to take a break and play some “Fortnite” and hop off a little later, and do some more studying. My parents were out to dinner, and wouldn’t be back for a while. My other siblings were already in bed falling asleep. As I boot up my X-box I look towards the clock to see that it is 9 o’clock. Plenty of time till my parents get home at 11. In the middle of a game I hear a car door shut outside. I look out the window, and my parents were already home I couldn’t believe my eyes. I swore it had only been a hour, but as I look at the clock my nightmares were true. It was 11 o’clock, and I was supposed to be in bed. I scramble to bed, and pretend to sleep. In the moment playing the game seemed so fun. In the long run studying for my exams is a better use of time than playing “Fortnite”. Hours wasted by that game almost ruined my night. 

 _{What Thanksgiving Really Means}

- by Joseph Doherty

Every family has their different traditions for Thanksgiving 

But there is not a set in stone agenda for this American classic

Is it a time to reflect on your year or your life?

Is it a time to remember how fortunate we are?

Is it a time to get together with family?

Or Is it just a time to eat lots of food and take a day off?

We all do different things

Reflect on different things 

Even eat different things

When it comes to Thanksgiving 

I don’t reflect on what my year was like 

I don’t remember how fortunate I am 

I live in the moment 

Trying not to reflect on what I have done

But who is around me and what is around me 

Time flies 

So if you live your life always reflecting

You’ll never see what you have right in front of you

All the family members that you have,

Becuase before you now it 

They might be gone 

All the objects that you might have 

Might mean something in the moment 

But In the long run 

Mean nothing compared to your family 

Joseph Doherty 

Freshman English 

Mr. Fitzsimmons

11/2/18

The Primordial Beast and Adapting to a

New World 

For the pride of trace and trail was his, and sick unto death, he could not bear that another dog should do his work.”- [Chapter Four]

    As Buck’s muscles tighten he realized how hard it would be for him to pull this load. His feet were moving, but nothing else was. Joe Thorton was in front of him yelling at him to pull. If Buck could win this wager he would put 1,600 dollars into the hands of Joe Thorton. The load began to move inch by inch becoming easier to move. Then the load pulled free, and Buck was able to pull an almost impossible load to the finish line. With this money, he would also allow himself and Joe Thorton to make their trip to the East. Buck needed to adapt to his new home when he first came to North, so he could be able to pull this load. Also when he was tested he prevailed having his primordial comes out, and helps him out.  

~By Joseph Doherty  

 “If you are in a beautiful place where you can enjoy sunrise and sunset,
then you are living like a lord.”

—Nathan Phillips 

-by Joseph Doherty 

 “There is no worse sorrow than remembering happiness in the day of sorrow.”

 -Alfred De Musset