The McCandless Project 

Claire Coleman

The experiment I chose to do for the McCandless project was to wear my natural hair one day instead of styling it. Not too many people reacted to this, but I did get a few comments on it such as, “Claire! Your hair looks pretty today.” or “Did you do something to your hair?” I myself am not a fan of my natural hair so I was surprised when I got compliments on it. It made me feel a little bit better about something I don't like about myself. During the experiment I felt pretty normal because the way my hair is doesn't really affect me. Saying this, when I looked in the mirror, I was taken back for a moment but then remembered…the project! Based on these results I think you are “free” not to conform. I also think if thats what you want to do and thats how you want to live your life with/doing social abnormalities, go for it. People should not judge you for who you are. You should be able to like what you want, do what you want and be what you want without society commenting on you for it. Saying this, thats what society does. It is constantly judging you no matter what you say or do. Somehow we try and learn to cope with it the best we can. 

Quotation Blog

"A head full of fears has no space for dreams"

           I chose this quotation because I thought it really represented how I believe people should live their lives. I think kids should especially live by this quote because when kids or teenagers are young, their minds are full of dreams: what they want to be when they grow up, how they want their high school years to go, etc, however; fears and worries sometimes get in the way of those bold dreams and kids loose their wishes. This quotation also represents me because I dream about my future and what I myself want to become. My dream is to attend Arizona State and become a police officer. Being a girl, most people laugh when I tell them that dream of being a police woman, but it will forever be my childhood dream and something I hope to achieve and execute well one day. If I lived my life every day based off my quotation, I think a way to describe me would be fearless. If I was faced with a situation where I was to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't think anything of it and go for it. Also, peoples opinions on the things I liked or wanted to do wouldn't phase me a bit. All in all, I think this quotation is a perfect way to live your life.

Claire Coleman

Mrs. Belden

Honors English I

10 October, 2014

Until I’m Gone

April 2nd, 2012, 4:56 pm

Im going to start with the pro of the day to try to be optimistic. It’s Kimberly’s 24th birthday! Something I love so much about her is that when something so devastating happens (like the con of today) she is still so lovable and beyond beautiful, even with tears in her eyes. I can’t even describe to you my love for her, because I can’t put it into words. I can’t fathom what might happen to us; to our unconditional love. Kimberly, I’m actually writing this journal to you in our little apartment bedroom. To you so when I am gone you will have something to explore all of our last but amazing hours together, and so you get an even greater understanding of how hard it was for me to leave the love of my life, and the little lady who means everything to me. The pancreatic cancer is is me until the day I go to heaven. Until that day there will be infinite hours of snuggling on the couch, catching up on our recorded House Hunters International’s and ordering in Chinese. So many hours of visiting your favorite place, the Seattle Zoo. Kimberly, it’s your birthday. You're not reading this now but when you do I want you to know I’m sorry. Right now I’m feeling hopeless. Im sorry this had to happen on your birthday, the holiday that makes you appreciate life in a way nothing else does and the holiday you love dearly. I’m sorry, more than sorry. 

Today, we were told that I have a year to live, but within that year our life will be a non-stop adventure. Watching the you makes me never want to leave you.

April 4th, 2012, 4:28 am

We’re grieving about this more and worse than I expected. I can’t sleep to save my life, and I just don't know how to deal with news like this so unexpectedly. I can’t bring myself to do anything but lay around, and stay inside the cozy pink and green checkered flannel sheets of our queen bed and think about things. Kimberly, I’m sorry for making the doctors appointment on your special day. Gosh darn it, why! Why did they only have an appointment then! I’m so frustrated and just beyond excited for these upcoming cancer filled days. What a joy. The doctor called today telling me to come in on the ninth. I wonder what this could be about…

April 7th, 2012, 5:36 pm

After three more days of feeling bad for ourselves why not look on the bright side and have fun while it’s still here. Today was an unforgettable day with you, Kimberly, at the Seattle Zoo. It’s almost as if we were celebrating your birthday today, just five days late. I had an unbelievable time scarfing down Dippin’ Dots while watching the monkeys play, on this beautiful spring day. The sun was shining so bright it gave you that feeling it was burring through the back of your shirt, but mostly I had an unbelievable time because I got to spend it with you. My favorite part of the zoo today was the water boat ride because of all of our laughs. I can hear you saying in my head, “You make me the happiest lady alive.” It’s the little things in life that count. 

April 9th, 2012, 7:59 pm

Doctors appointment today. We walked into that cruel, grey room everyone dreads cheerful as could be and left exasperated as could be. Today, we were told that I have a year to live, but within that year our life will be a non-stop adventure. Kimberly, today you told me you wanted to marry me. I want to marry you also, however; my mind is a non-stop circus. Is that what you really want? Once I leave I’m gone forever never coming back. I can see myself falling into something deeper than just sadness. I weigh 122 pounds and the doctors keep telling me I need to start inhaling food, but I can’t push myself to do it. I weigh as much as an anorexic teenage girl. 

…Until I’m better. 

February 16, 2013, 10:59 pm

I say I am excited is an understatement. Today I had an unexpected doctors appointment and you already had plans to go out with Nicole and Nikki your best friends sense childhood who now live in the Big Apple for lunch. Of course, being my wonderful girlfriend you felt bad for not being able to come but I told you that there’s many more doctors appointments to come, knowing there would be. I dreaded walking into the office I now visit often, but today was different. I received the news of my lifetime. The doctor explained to me that I was one of the rarest cases of pancreatic cancer he’d ever seen. A miracle worked inside me, and the pancreatic cancer had left my body. I pulled out my phone immediately to call you and tell you everything but put it away quickly after when I got an idea. I knew you wanted to marry and I was dying to marry you. I decided to save the news until I proposed to you. My whole life I’d been planning to propose to you on your birthday but that idea was squished when the cancer came and I was expecting to die. This year, on April 2nd, 2013, I will tell you the best news of my life, on your favorite day in life to make both of our lives, together, perfect.

February 17, 2013, 1:31 am

I can’t keep all my thoughts together tonight. How in the world am I going to save the fact that the cancer is completely gone until your birthday? April 2nd is fourth-four days away! Now I can’t sleep because of my excitement. 

April 1, 2013, 4:39 pm

One day until my dreams come true. My plan is for us to visit the zoo and ride the water boats, our favorite thing about the Seattle Zoo. That’s when i’ll pop the big question. I will forever remember the time you told me, “You make me the happiest lady alive” while on the boats. To you, I will say the same. 

…Until tomorrow

February 3rd, 2013, 9:10 am

We are officially engaged! I can’t tell what you're most excited about, the fact that i’m officially cancer free or that I will be spending the rest of my life with you. I’m thinking about yesterday. We had waited 15 minutes to get on the boats. We were on, and almost to our favorite part of the ride near the monkeys when I explained, “I have the best news ever to tell you. The reason were not already engaged is gone, the cancer is gone and now I’m able to love you forever. I want to more than I can tell you. Without your help through these hard past months I would be dead, but you're here. You've changed my life drastically showing me what love is, and showing my our love is endless. You are the most beautiful, intelligent lady who makes my life shine so bright.” Now I got down on one knee and pulled out the little Andrews Jewlers box. I continued, “Will you marry me?” You were speechless. It shocked me for a minute showing me your amazing heart. 

“Yes!” And we walked off the ride into the sunset happier than we’d ever been together. The best night of my life just happened right in front of me. 

Claire Coleman

Honors English I 

Mrs. Belden

15 September 2014

Divergent Timed Writing

This summer I read the novel Divergent written by Veronica Ross. One of the many themes is: Family is forever and will love you no matter what happens. Two ways this is  shown is when Tris has to make the hard decision to stay in Abnegation or transfer to a different faction, and when Tris’s mom still visits her after her faction transfer.

First, every sixteen year old in Tris’s skewed world needs to decide which faction (basically factions are like countries specializing in different things) to live in for the rest of their life. It is not shined upon to change factions. Tris, however; switched from Abnegation, plain and simple, to Dauntless, risk takers and very bold. This relates back to the theme family is forever and will love you no matter what happens because it was such a hard decision weather Tris should stay loyal to her faction, but mostly her family she loves, or stay loyal to herself. Deciding to change factions or remain in your original faction is a hard decision for all sixteen year olds. Some take this as selfishness but most children don't want to hurt their family, only do what is best for their future as an adult. Tris felt confident and knew her family would love her dearly no matter what even if there was a little bit of uproar at the beginning about her new Dauntless life. 

Secondly, once Tris converted to Dauntless from Abnegation, she always wanted to see her family again but never expected to to because of her change. Eventually, her mom showed up and explained to her how proud she was of her. Really her mom showed up so Tris could help out Caleb, her brother, in his faction, but that was only for loving reasons also. Tris’s mom showing up in the Dauntless area to help out both of her children shows how much care and love she has for both of them. Even though both kids left their parents alone, one of the absolute worst things to do, she still had a big enough heart to want good and happiness for her only children. This is an outstanding way shown in Divergent on how family is forever and will love you constantly. 

As you can tell, the love in Tris’s family is huge. These are just two ways out of many showing that. 

Metacognitive Post: And Then There Were None

Claire Coleman

September 17, 2014

          From my first draft to my last, many things changed. In my first draft, I didn't have enough commentary so I added a bunch but also changed punctuation, capitalization, spelling, etc. Also, I couldn't decide how I wanted to map out my first paragraph. At first I started writing and answering all the required questions, but I didn't like how it sounded and I didn't like how I put it together. I ended up creating it into a story but still answering all the questions at the same time. 

         Honestly, I think the most effective form of support that helped my create my final draft of my essay was the peer review checklist. I think this was helpful because it was feedback from someone who is also writing the same thing, knows the requirements and what other classmates thoughts are about writing. Along with peer editing, I also like adult feedback (I always give my dad things to check) because they are good with checking your grammar, spelling and knowing if things sound good together. I didn't put adult feedback as my number one favorite source of help because adults may know the grammar piece of essays, but they don't know the requirement part. I think meeting the requirements of a project is important. Saying this, the written feedback on my timed writing was very helpful too. I like knowing what I do wrong so I can improve it on a following activity. Continuing this year, peer editing and teacher feedback will definently help me in writing essays. I always have a parent check my writing! 

          I believe I am a pretty good writer but defiantly have room to improve. One goal of mine this year is to change and switch up how my writing sounds. I think I always use the same words and my writing always sounds similar just with a different topic. I also think my grammar skills are not too good; I am especially not good at placing commas.