Spearman

My spearman project effectively turned out exactly how I described it. It's a 2D interactive game where you control a stickman that throws spears at computer-generated enemies. You must hit the enemy 5 times in order to kill them, and you die if they hit you 3 times. You also have the ability to control the path of the arrow by adjusting its angle and velocity, which more or less will be around the same for each shot. The enemies spawn in a controlled area at the top right of the stage and shoot arrows at the player. I didn't create a 2 player mode, but I'm thinking about adding it later on. Even though I reached my intended result, there were a lot of issues like animating characters, stepping time so that everything works in real-time and generating the sprites. It came out with some bugs, but overall, I'm proud of my work.

Slides Presentation

Spearman Game

2D Scratch Game

 My scratch game is going to be a 2D player vs enemy game. The player stands on a platform at the bottom left of the stage, and enemies spawn on platforms anywhere on the right side of the stage. The player has a spear which they have to throw at the enemies, with the objective of killing them before the enemy can fire an arrow at the player. The enemies will fire arrows at the player, and will successfully kill the player if they hit them with 3 arrows. Simple physics will be used for the direction of the arrows, such as the parabolic arcs and power put into each shot. I'm considering whether to add a 2 player mode, as the mechanics will work the same, but with someone controlling the bow and arrows.

Graduation Speech

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Hello to everyone who is reading this. From parents to teachers to students to the District 67 staff. I want to thank you. I want to thank all of you for giving me the opportunity to learn, to play, to discover the world in ways I couldn't have thought of. Before I get into my speech, I wanted to thank the teachers at Hynes.

Teachers like Ms. Johnson, Mrs. Reiner, Mrs. Sadkin. Mr. Step, and, and Mr. G in Hynes who taught me the basis on how to be kind, caring, and respectful to others. Who taught me that you should try and tackle your fears, no matter how big they are. Who taught me that it's not bad to step out of your comfort zone, and to be daring. I learned to give it my all, no matter how daunting a task was, and that being respectful to others is a trait that will reward not only you, but others as well. Without my teachers at Hynes, I wouldn't know basics like reading, writing, calculating, and caring. Really, thank you.

For my friends and teachers at Golf, you are best people anybody could have to guide them through not only school, but life as a whole. Whenever I was down or need something to just lighten me up, you guys were always there.

In 5th Grade I was lucky to still have my friends from Hynes, and we were able to get closer together as a result of staying within the same class for the entire day. Surprisingly, even though that was the way of school all the way up that point, I never felt like I wanted a break from it. I can remember Mrs. Moss, my 5th grade teacher, and how she used to tell the class about Wrigley, her dog. I remember the Science Fair and how I took on the task of creating a scale prototype of a shoe rack/coat hanger, which I modeled with a little bear. 

In 6th Grade, we had a change in the way of school, because we had to switch classes for every subject of ours. I made some friends from this change, and I'm still grateful to have them now. 6th Grade was a year of familiarity, however, at the same time there was a difference in the way we knew each other. I feel like there was a slight difference about how we interacted, like the way we talked, how we thought of each other. It was like we matured, but we were still the same people we were for the past 7 years. 

7th Grade, in my opinion, was the biggest change that we had in the district in terms of friendships and classes. I was with the same people I was with previously, yet there was still that same feeling of disconnection with some people. Friends I was with earlier left for other classes, and I almost stopped communicating with them. At the same time I made friends that I have very close relationships with, so the vibe of 7th Grade echoed that of 6th. In the same year I met some of the most influential teachers I have had so far. I had to take on the challenge of learning a new language, taking the Constitution Test, and exploring new places in Camp MacLean. Throughout all this I had friends who had my back no matter what it took, and teachers willing to support me at every end and corner. 7th Grade was also the year I took on sports, one of the best things I could ever decide to do in my life.

8th Grade was the quickest year, yet it was the densest year, filled with all sorts of events and antics. Being in Mrs. Joyner's class was one of the best things to happen in the district, as I got to know a class that would redefine the unexpected. From all the inside jokes to the tomfoolery that was always present, even during tests. Everyone knew that this was the class to turn to when we wanted to "woot woot turn up". When she wasn't here, we always talked through classroom, expressing our confusion and sadness as to why we were missing out on so much. From concerning Mr. Gilman with the pandemonium we caused, to personally going through the stress of interviews and Model U.N., which now I look back on with warmth in my heart, because Mrs. Joyner was there to go with me through it.

Mrs. Conejo dealt with the random spurts of wildness and pranks we pulled in her class, from dancing at the front, to death stares stronger than lasers, to ears that didn't quite seem normal. She entreated upon us the importance about being kind and aware of yourself and others, understanding our thoughts about the seriousness of presentation of issues as serious as it.

Mr. Carris' class was filled with sarcastic humor and moments of pure joy, pranking others and making bets with everyone on who would win what. The table that I sat at was one of loudness, but in my defense we had some good moments. (Not exactly appropriate for this post :)  )

In Mr. Carro's class we cracked puns and weren't afraid to be honest about what we thought, imploring for information on how the real, "grown-up" world works. Taking a class and transforming it into a lesson about taxes and mortgages may not sound like the most exciting thing, but it was a wacky departure from the hubbub that took place in his class.

Going to Camp MacLean for the second time was something I looked forward to for the entire year. The first time was fun and a mystery to nearly all of us at first, but now that we would have familiarity with the camp and the activities in it, another door was opened to the things that we could do. Thinking about anything but looking down on the High Ropes course, lounging around and gaping at all the food we had in the Main Lounge, running from wasps while fishing, and acting like we were on the insane root at midnight, were just some of the most memorable events at Camp.

My time at District 67 was one that I will never, ever let get away from me, no matter how many memories I make after this year. It was a time that shaped my being and mind, my knowledge and awareness, my relationships and feelings. I will miss, and cherish the time I had at District 67, Thank you.

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Endings And Beginnings

This week's blog post is supposed to be about endings and beginnings, and i'm going to write about it by responding to a quote.

God wants us to know that life is a series of beginnings, not endings. Just as graduations are not terminations, but commencements. Creation is an ongoing process, and when we create a perfect world where love and compassion are shared by all, suffering will cease.
- Bernie Siegel

While the quote in whole is a very deep and inspiring one, I will be focusing on the first half of it for this post.

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Bernie states that life is not just endings, they can be interpreted as beginnings too. An example he gives is graduation. Instead of leaving the life and school you've been in, you are just beginning a new one. While this is a very true and creative way to interpret life, I think that the endings should be considered just as much as the beginnings. Yes you are going to a new school, meeting new people, but at the same time you are leaving a foundation that you have been a part of for 8 years, with people that have never left your side. Now in high school with all new classes and hundreds of other people, there is a definite possibility that some of those relationships will end.

One way I like to think about beginnings and endings is considering life. When you are born, you start your official "life". But even as we grow, learn, communicate, we are also stepping closer to the end. Every second that passes by is a second closer to death. In this perspective we can consider life an ending and beginning, at the same time.

In conclusion, I think that endings and beginnings are an integral way of how we perceive and get through life, as one ending can be the beginning of something far greater, or the end of life can lead to a Heaven leagues beyond what we see now.

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STANDARDIZED TESTS

Standardized tests. One of the many banes of my existence. Even the name sounds boring and unpleasant. "Standardized", meaning normal, causing to conform to a standard. "Test", a one time "display" of your knowledge that is wrongfully used to measure your overall intelligence.

One example of these tests is the PARCC test. Much like the term "Standardized Test", the name is not only unpleasant, but also a trick! The test does not deserve to be named the PARCC, as it reminds many of a park, a place of fun and relaxation, adventure and activity. The test is in reality, the stark opposite.

Besides the nasty feeling you get saying it, there's also the annoying reality of taking it. You answer page after page of misleading questions, forcing you to abandon what YOU thought was the right answer, for what the PARCC thinks is the right answer. It confuses and frustrates you, because you have no idea on how to tackle the test! Each strategy you come up with is shot down by another bad question or another haphazard passage.

The most important thing that I think is wrong about not only the PARCC, but most standardized tests is that they are used as a definitive measure of you intelligence and capability to learn. They are a one time representation of not only 1 year, but many years of knowledge and experience. The test can make you stressed, which can impact your performance.

Other events that can be going on at the same time can also impact your performance. The placement of the PARCC at a time like the end of a school year, the YEAR BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL is a recipe for stress, distraction, and frustration. There's high school issues, end of the year issues, sports issues, and it all just doesn't make sense.

The PARCC is a bad, poorly executed test, but what REALLY bugs me are tests like the ACT AND SAT. They are of a MUCH, MUCH higher stake than the PARCC, being the mostly deciding factor for your college and life. They're the gateway to Ivy League colleges, and the obstacles to them at the same time. One thing about them that is cool is that you can retake them, but even then you have so many chances.

Overall, I believe that standardized tests are a bad way of measuring the intelligence of students, and a worse way to deciding their future.

Cute Animals

                                                                                                              LOOK AT... and admire these                                                                                                                     cute animals!

A Tribute To Someone Special

            Most people would write a tribute to someone in their family, or someone really close to them. However, I feel that I express this usually, especially to my family. I want to dedicate this to someone who's responsible for teaching me what I know. He's someone who really deserves this, and even a blog post won't do him justice. This person is Mr. Carris. He's the Social Studies Teacher at my school, and he's one of the best teachers I've had so far.
             He always explains things the subjects we're learning not only in the standard way, but in a way we can relate to and understand. He uses modern topics as analogies for conflicts and events, which really does help us absorb what's happening in the past. He's never afraid to teach us the gritty and real events of all the wars we've learned about.
             He always cracks jokes and makes sure that whatever we're focused on has a bit of humor in it. There's never a moment where tension, or any negative feelings are present in the classroom, as he never fails to break it. He doesn't fluff up what we learn, and isn't afraid to be completely honest about the feelings of people concerning the topic.
              Mr. Carris is truly someone who is not only great at his job, but is also someone who is great at lightening the hearts of those he knows. Even when I get to know more people and have more teachers, there is no one who will surpass Mr. Carris at what he does and no one who will take his place in my life.