English Academic Team Competition

Robert F. Kennedy
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Martin Lither King Jr.
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I'm ready for our Academic Team Competition. I had a meeting yesterday for English Academic Team and I believe we're going to do well. We're studying "An American Generation from 1964-1980". It involves literature from that time period like the Martin Luther King Jr. speech from Birmingham Jail, Birmingham, Alabama, Nixon's Resignation speech, Robert F. Kennedy's speech on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X: "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech and Jimmy Carter's "Crisis in Confidence" speech. My thing that I had to be really good at were the speeches and I'm planning on rereading them before the competition. I've liked studying these speeches because it gives me an in-depth look at United States history and the people that have made the United States what it is today.

Traveling Over Spring Break and Over the Summer

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Over Spring Break I'm planning to go with people from church down to New Orleans to help build houses that were destroyed by Katrina. I have gone down there before, last year with my dad, but I think I'll get a lot more out of it this time because I'm older and I appreciate what I have more. I think it will also be a lot more fun because I'm going with a larger group this time, with people my age and who I know a bit, but can get to know better.


During summer vacation, my family and I will be going to Holland to visit my grandparents and cousins. I don't know how long we'll be going but I know it'll be at least a week. I don't see my aunt, uncle, grandparents, and cousins often so it'll be nice to see them. It'll also be nice to explore Holland as an adult instead of as a little kid.



Photo from: www.thetravelpeach.com/.../the-netherlands.jpg

When I think of the Netherlands I think of tulips and canals. Probably not what most people think of, but I like tulips.

My Favorie Movies and TV Shows

This past year I've been watching a lot of movies. My type of movie is a romantic comedy like What Women Want starring Mel Gibson or a science fiction movie like Transformers or Transformers Revenge of the Fallen. Another science fiction, romantic movie that I really liked was the Time Traveler's Wife. I thought it was hilarious and sad at the same time.

I really love movies with Pierce Brosnan in them. He is so hot. He used to be James Bond for a time and I have some of those movies and I also have the movie The Thomas Crown Affair which was awesome, especially in the end when the museum curators realize they have the original piece of artwork that was "supposedly stolen".

Books, Books, and More Books

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Fantastic Fiction

I have several favorite authors. Right now, I love to read Judith McNaught's books. I have read almost all of her books. My favorite one right now is Paradise. It is a modern day romance fairytale, but the guy is Cinderella, not literally, but Matthew comes from poorer roots, while Meredith is really rich. Her dad splits them up and they hate each other for years, until they finally meet again and realize they're not divorced. Long story, but very good. There are some boring parts, but there are some funny parts too.

Another book of hers that I really like is called Perfect and is also part of Judith McNaught's modern day series. Julie is a teacher getting supplies in Texas when her car gets a "flat tire", not really because Zack slit it with his knife. Zack is a criminal who is on the run and "kidnaps" Julie. They eventually fall in love and it becomes another great book by Judith McNaught.