Welcome Debaters!!
For those of you who are new to the blogging experiences, this is a great opportunity to get your feet wet--this week's blog posting is very low-key. You are going to introduce yourself in a way that you haven't yet done to your fellow D&Ders.
First--begin with your name--and then a nickname or something that you respond to (keeping in mind that I will probably call you some variation of that throughout the year), and either 1) how you got that name or 2) why you like it.
Next--sell yourself a bit--who you are, why you're here (in Debate class), what you're into (these are easily accessible on a school server--keep it clean), and what you hope to get out of this class.
Then--move into the future--what do you hope to be, to accomplish, to discover as you make your way into the world. Some of you are sophomores, juniors and seniors--project anywhere from 3-6 years into the future as you think about this question.
Finally, a prelude to what has come to be known as ASK BUNJE DAY. You get to ask me one question (school appropriate) and I will answer it here. :)
Onward and Upward, Bloggers!
Hi, I’m Neil. I am sometimes called Tree. In my Lang Figurative Language Project, I even made mine about a tree. The name was bestowed upon me by none other than Ms. Bunje, for rather obvious reasons – I am tall, rather lanky, and brown. In my lang project, I extended the “Tree” as a metaphor for myself beyond this very surface-level observation, but how exactly I extended the metaphor escapes me.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, I am Neil, I’m a senior, here for Round 2 in 204. I have a thick skin, so feel free to bust my chops. I like reading, love economics, math, science, politics -- everything facilely boring essentially. I do love debate and discourse – that is one of the reasons I am in this class. I don’t like it because I particularly like debate because I like winning – that is, I don’t particularly see debate as an opportunity to compete. I see it as a way to broaden my perspectives: to reaffirm what I rightfully believe and challenge (or be challenged) on what should rightfully be winnowed away from by pool of values and positions. As you can probably already tell, I use big words. It’s a habit that I actually am not really proud of, though it is pretty utilitarian. To become a stronger writer and stronger reader and memorize the spacious volume of SAT Reading words, I had to expand my vocabulary and then retain it. The best way to retain big words – use them! Also, in general, I have become accustomed to the great breadth of possibilities that become available when armed with a larger lexicon. That habit has stuck. I really don’t do it for the sake of grandiloquence; it’s just something I can’t really shake. People can find it alienating or find me inaccessible or esoteric or gosh, even pretentious – but I seriously am not. Even worse, some find the way I speak and my general subject matter so overwhelming that they don’t feel of the right “intellectual caliber” to discuss anything serious with me. Please don’t feel that way or this class is going nowhere. I am honestly a chill guy and I hope you all get the chance to see that. Please don’t think I’m judging you if you don’t get my esoteric Mitt Romney joke – I’m the dork talking about a has-been politician.
Now that that is out of the way, I am into a lot of things ;). Yes the winky face is to make you feel uncomfortable. I love running, playing golf, playing chess, discussing sports of any sort really, I like lifting, I like eating food, I like a pretty good variety in my music, I respond well to logos, I really love joking around, usually at inappropriate times, I really don’t anger very easy (or really at all, I just get passionately dissatisfied) but I like to go on rants, I’m brown, I’ll let my OPs explain the rest.
Four years from now, I hope to be out of college. I don’t plan on pursuing anything past a bachelor’s, except for maybe an MBA if I deem it necessary some time later in life. I hope to be an entrepreneur or innovator in the engineering field, but if I am too incompetent for that, I wouldn’t mind working as an engineer or a banker doing cool stuff and applying math to something.
And finally, my Ask Bunje day preview: What did you do for your Birthday Bunj!?
This is my second year in 204. Although the class I took last year varies tremendously from the classes I am taking this year in the room, I'm stop the same person- I'm just one big ball of nerves. So I'll first start with my goal for the year I guess- I'm hoping to get out of this rut that I feel like I've been stuck in for a while. The rut is not speaking properly out loud and not letting my thoughts flow in a nice manner. I do however don't hold back with saying stuff that i believe strongly in. (remember that) Now that that's outta the way, I'm Aubree. People call me aubs and yeah- that's about it. It caught on when I was younger and just stuck bc it's a lot shorter than aubree. (One syllable shorter ;)) I love sports. Especially track. I'm big on running- sprinting that is. I just generally love working out in any area. Training is what gets me through the day. And if I don't have practice/a meet or can't make it there, I'm always sure to lift at home or go to the gym. I need some kind of intense movement at least once a day. I'm not big on the whole academic side of things only because I'm not a great test taker. However I am Curious to always learn something new. With all of that being said, I aspire to be a phys Ed/health teacher and maybe an athletic trainer on the side-maybe not. But definitely the first part. I wanna run track in college and coach high school track and then be a phys ed\health teacher for high schoolers. I really hope that's what I get to do because I'd be happy for life. Ask Bunje day: why did you choose to teach high school kids?
ReplyDeleteHey my name is Tamirah Robinson. I have various nicknames and because you already know Tameerkat given to me by our very own Ms. Bunje I'd like to share some others. Warning the following nicknames may not only be incredibly embarrassing but the may also may be incredibly perplexing but considering this is the general nature of nicknames I think I'll share them anyway. Okay so here we go my name is Tamirah Robinson also known as T-T, Tam-Tam, Tim-Tim, triple t, Tuna fish, T, or even Big Blossom. Some origins of the nicknames have come from family members such as T-T that came from my older brother who at the age of six came up with the mistaken notion that my last name would be Thomas (my mother's maiden name) when really I got Robinson which is his last name too by the way. This nickname then prompted my friends who heard family members calling me that to call me the same thing making T-T my most used nickname. The others like triple t or tam-tam came from friends who felt the need to shorten my name or because they heard the nickname T-T and just wanted to be different. The other more embarrassing one came from great aunts who feel the need to lament the fact that I have a big head thus spawned the name big blossom, or from a great aunt who is just following my five year old desire which was for her to call me Tuna fish a nickname she upholds to this day (whether I want her to or not).
ReplyDeleteThe reason I'm back in 204 is that I'm hoping being in debate will force me to talk more. It's not that I'm extremely shy or anything more the fact that I am rather taciturn. I'm also hoping for the fact that it will make me a better arguer because when faced with confrontation I just tend to back down instead of face up to it and I really want that to change. Being in band where I'm a senior and others look to me for guidance in what to do helps with that but sometimes I just can't get out of my old ways. Besides being the epic nerd that I am whose in marching band I am also a semi athlete in regards that I do crew. When I am not being on to opposite ends of a spectrum I enjoy listening to music, binge watching TV shows, and when I can go to the movies.
Four years from now I hope to have graduated from college with a job in psychology which job in psychology I do not know yet but hopefully one I love. I also hope to discover in the future that I am truly happy with my life not that I am not know but it's just something I don't want to ever change.
My ask Bunje day question: What is your favorite thing about teaching debate?
Hi, I’m Janet. I don’t really have a nickname, but sometimes my cousins call me Sloth. I’m really lazy, and I never clean my room. Generally, I sit for most of the day.
ReplyDeleteI am a sophomore, and just like in AP Spanish, I am the only sophomore in this class. It was a little intimidating at first, but I’m not as scared anymore. I love reading, watching videos on Netflix, and knitting/crocheting. Eating is my passion. Sometimes the food is too good, so I can’t stop eating and end up feeling sick afterwards. As you have just learned, I have no self-control. I try to act confident, but it only works when I’m by myself or around close friends. I can’t talk to people I don’t know well, and I wish I could change that. Being an introvert sucks because other people expect me to socialize when I feel so drained after each interaction. Some people just don’t get it. Anyways, I’m also really into coffee. I’m working on how to perfect latte art. Honestly, I’m only in this class because I changed my school schedule at the last minute. I’m pretty shy, so debate is the last thing that I ever want to do. But Ms. Bunje is super cool, and I like the topics that we cover in class. I feel like I’m growing as a person after each class discussion, and I get to learn about different perspectives. I hope that I can become more open-minded. Three years from now, I hope I’m accepted in a college that I like. I hope that my finances will be okay, and that I will become ready to be independent.
Question: What made you decide that you wanted to be a teacher?
Hi! My name is Jacqueline Giordano but everyone calls me Jaci. If you call me by my full name I most likely will not know who you are trying to talk to. I do however love being called and answer to the name J-quelin. This was a name my friend Nick gave to me freshman year after watching a video where a girl named Jacqueline was called J-quelin. It has stuck ever since. This nickname is my personal favorite of mine because its funny, to say the you can't be mad or upset, it automatically puts you in a good mood! Nick is also the reason why I took debate, he took the class and always talked about how much fun it was and told me how much I would enjoy it. So I took his advice and signed up for the class and so far I'm enjoying the class and I'm discovering a lot about myself that I didn't realize before.
ReplyDeleteI can be very, let's say, passionate about the things I believe. I try to keep an open mind while explaining to others my side as well. I do however always try to stay positive. A saying my friends know me for is "Be as happy as a dog and forget to worry." It's something I came up with and is, in my opinion, a key to life. Everything happens for a reason, no matter how bad things seem there is a reason they are happening and something good will come out of it.
Outside of the classroom I love to play volleyball and I'm pretty good at it. My teammates are my best friends and I wouldn't have it any other way. Also I love volunteering at my church every Sunday. Ever since I was in third grade volunteering has been a major part of my life. I have watched kids grow up as I do myself. Right now I lead a small group of 5th grade girls and they are my pride and joy. Getting to see them every Sunday is the reason I can wake up so early on the weekends without complaining. Being a leader to them has had great effect on the decisions I make in my life because I want my girls to have a leader they can be proud of, a leader that they one day hope to be like. They are the reason I work so hard and don't fall under normal teenage pressures.After high school my dream is to go to University of Florida. If not there I hope to go to a D3 school and play volleyball. I'm not sure what career I want to do, I love science so probably something in that area but other that that I have no idea!
So that me, a leader and athlete, who always try's to remain positive.
Now Bunje it's your turn: What's your favorite thing about yourself?
Hi my name is Ashanay Knight. I have only two serious nicknames which are Nay and Nay-Nay (however, only my family calls me Nay-Nay) I like this nickname because its a easier way to shorten my name since some people say it wrong.This is my second year in 204 with Bunje and I am so far enjoying it. I had Bunje for English 3 last year and that was by far the best class I had my junior year. I am a senior now and I chose to take debate because I like to talk about things and I like hearing other people's opinions on certain topics. I hope to learn how to public speak in this class since I have trouble doing so. Anyways I am a very nice person and I love to laugh and joke around with friends and I am a very hard worker. 4 years from now I hope to graduate college and then go into nursing school. I really hope to become a doctor or RN or maybe even a physical therapist.
ReplyDeleteNow Bunje what is one of your favorite memories for Oakcrest?
Hey guys, my names Thomas Smith. I never really get nicknames, generally people just call me some variation if Thomas. Though for a while when I had really ugly long hair people would refer to me as Peppermint Patty, and apparently when some people don't know e by name they refer to me as Shrek, because I played him in the musical last year, and I guess people got a kick out of it,
ReplyDeleteWell there are a few things I do around Oakcrest. First of all, I love acting and being a part of drama, I did it just for kicks freshman year, and now can't see myself without it. I am also very involved min the choir, being in all the choirs I can at school, as well as the All South Jersey and All State choirs. I'm also a board member on Student Council, which is pretty interesting.
My dreams for the future are kind of impractical I guess. Because I can't see myself living my life without making music and performing on stage, so if all my dreams come true and I lead a charmed life out of high school, what I want more than anything is to get the chance to act professionally, optimistically on Broadway, and be able to support myself, and hopefully a family like that.
And I guess one question I always like asking to teachers would be: What is the flat out weirdest thing that has occurred during one of your classes?
Hi guys, I'm Olivia Aires. I have a few nicknames that my friends call me but most people just call me Liv. I don't know who gave me this nickname but it's just a shorter version of my name. I love sports especially basketball! I'm a very calm person but crazy. I LOVE to laugh and smile. I joined debate because a friend of mines last year told me it was a fun class and plus I couldn't take art no more it just wasn't my thing. I hope you get debating skills and just learn about different things I'm our society. My goal is to get a lot of scholarships before I leave high school. I would love to go to a fun college. Also. to be a lawyer or work with the FBI.
ReplyDeleteQuestion- what's the most crazies thing that has ever happened to you?