The A* Grade Challenge October Update: Gatsby, Fundamentalism and Motivation

Rather than rambling on and on, I'm going to go straight to the point.

I've decided to adapt to a specific structure. I'm not going to focus on every subject for all updates, I'm just going to pick out specific topics that I've learnt. Not only will it make it short and snappy- you won't lose interest in my everlasting sob stories either.

So this month, the novel that I've been focusing on in my English lessons is The Great Gatsby. It's pretty hard to believe that this novel wasn't a breakthrough when it was first published. It went to the extent that this work of Fitzgerald's wasn't even mentioned in his memoir. Now it's considered to be one of the most unparalleled pieces in American modern literature.

As you can probably guess, I absolutely loved the novel. Whether I enjoy writing essays about it is something else, but I'm getting there! Imagery and symbolism are in adundant supply which I think makes this novel simply amazing. I hope to watch the film so enough, probably during Chirstmas, and perhaps write a lot more [maybe?].

Another great topic that I studied [and still studying] is religious fundamentalism. This has always fascinated me. For those who don't know, fundamentalism is a term given to a concept/idea that expresses an extreme viewpoint regarding a religious matter. Truth is that fundamentalism isn't just about religion. You can be fundamentalist about anything, but nowadays its associated more with religious activity. This is quite a huge topic so there's lots to learn! But so far, I've focused on the origins and nature of fundamentalism and I was surprised to find out that the movement started when Darwin's very divisive theory of evolution came into prominence. It contradicted the theory of creationism stated in the Book of Genesis . It went to the extent that the State of Tennessee completely banned schools to teach evolution in science lessons- but of course, there will be that one person that's rather rebellious. If you're interested, then find out what happened here.

Apart from schoolwork, I've been focusing on increasing my motivation. I'm not going rewrite a sob story [I'm pretty sick about it], instead, I'm going to be positive [for the first time ever!].

Anyway, I've been finding some methods to help increase my motivation. After having a meeting with my Head of Year, I finally accepted the fact that failing ONE exam isn't the end of the world and actually, I finally acknowledge the fact that I'm extremely lucky to have a second chance to put things right. I've identified my mistakes and now it's all about moving on. So in response, I've created much of a wall.

Firstly, 100% credit goes to Amy who suggested this tactic to me! It's honestly helped so much and I can't express my gratitude enough. Just thank you. Thank you thank you thank you!

Also, this may work for some of you, but try to always think about results day. Think about how joyous you would be when you see your dream grades written on, what arguably is a very important sheet. This has motivated me so so much and it's made me pretty determined to get the grades I need/want. There's only one thing left though, hard work!

Rather than this being expression in August:

I want it to be like this:

   
Hopefully, positivity will prevail over the coming months!

The 'A 100 Women Series': An Introduction

“A woman is like a teabag…” suggests Eleanor Roosevelt; “…you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” Ask yourself this question, how much have women been acknowledged for their successes and incredible triumphs? Not as much as men I would argue. Some feminists would go further by accentuating that there is a complete lack of female representation and voice through the writings of history, or the concept of ‘women’s history’ is non-existent. Additionally, when the discipline of history is closely examined, women have appeared as fictional characters in folk stories, some a negative portrayal. But is it all accurate? Does it denote the full contribution of women in history?

The answer is no. The contribution has been such that some of the effects are still engraved in today’s societies but we may not see them directly. Women have founded many institutions that are vital for today’s survival, yet, some of us my not recognise that achievement. It might have taken a long while for the emancipation of women to establish in many fields, but I strongly believe that their prime contribution to history should still be acknowledged on the same terms as men.

The aim of the ‘A 100 Women Series’ is to celebrate the indelible mark women have created, and their utter commitment to achieving what was right for both themselves and humanity. I will be exploring those who have broken the glass ceiling, defied conventions and for those who have fought tooth-and-nail to accomplish their goals. Women may take most of their rights for granted nowadays, but how much have you thanked those who struggled endlessly to make those dreams a reality? Those who have put their lives on the line, or have even died for their cause because they were convinced that it would serve humanity right? That it would break down the barriers of subjugation and build the solid walls of women empowerment.

I will be congratulating the pioneers, the political leaders, the social advocates, the academics, the educators, the believers, the thinkers and lastly, the dreamers. Those who flourished in the fields of science and technology. Those who have excelled in film and television. Those who have blossomed in the world of business. Those who have thrived in the domain of sports. I will be acknowledging them all.  

This is pretty much the herstory of history. Of course women have contributed and have, additionally, been recognised. But not all of them. Achievement isn’t all about winning awards either. Legacy is much more essential, vital in fact. If the legacy is long lived, that’s an achievement in itself.