Week 9

Dear all,

I am done reading your draft 2 for essay 2 (D2E2), and you will receive my feedback and scores tomorrow soon. Again, I received only 22 essays this time. Please take a look at the gradesheet on the right bar (new name: Assignment checklist) and see if we made any wrong check, which is possible. If you have missed the deadline, just write to me explaining your reasons, then you might get a chance to submit your late work. Indeed, points will be deducted, but it's better than getting a zero. Don't give up on yourself. 

Tomorrow, I will present the "technologies of self," the fundamental concept of why we do digital narratives about the self. We will view more videos your seniors (graduates) created and samples found on the Internet. We will analyze them using a multimodal metalanguage framework (handout 1). Then, we'll read through how storyboards for digital stories are done (handout 2). For your personal video (video 1), you'll have a chance to brainstorm ideas and use the storyboard to practice planning the scenes. 

Louis, our good old friend, will visit us to give another workshop session on imaging. See you ~

Log 5

 Log 5

Recently, I borrowed “The Picture of Dorian Gray” from the library because I think the reading level of the book I’m currently reading is too high for me. Oscar Wilde is a well-known name, but I have never read his novels or poems before. His work is said to be elaborate and full of wordplay. Surprisingly, I find this book more accessible, and because the story is largely shown in dialogue form, I feel engaged when reading the story. 

However, there’re  some sentences that are difficult to understand, while each word and sentence is understandable, but the meaning is still difficult to grasp, especially those said by Lord Henry, whose words are quite philosophical. I feel that my life and reading experiences are too limited to fully grasp them.

This story starts with three people, Lord Henry Wotton, Basil Hallward, and Dorian Gray.  

Lord Henry is a very rich man, he is witty, smart and philosophical, and he wants to control Dorian.

Basil is a talented artist, he has a gloomy spirit, he likes Dorian very much.

Dorain Gray is a young man, he is naive, beautiful, and he has a tragic family.

I find Lord Henry's words always somewhat awkward, like when someone naturally states those embarrassing truths that we keep hidden in our hearts. Perhaps it’s these words that force us to reflect the behaviors we usually escape, allowing us to deeply feel our humanity. In particular, I found this line has sparked considerable discussion online:

“It is only stupid people who do not judge by appearance. The true mystery of the world is what we can see, not what is hidden.”

I agree with this statement. In reality, we are indeed superficial and judge others by their appearance. We can only assess someone’s appearance with our eyes, and we use our knowledge to determine if they are good or bad, smart or foolish, rich or poor. Those who don’t judge by appearances, are they ignoring or escaping the most fundamental feelings of humanity? Could that be a form of superficiality or foolishness?

However, the words that most made me unsettled is the following:

“All influence is immoral, because to influence a person is to give him one’s own soul. One takes away a person’s natural thoughts and feelings and virtues. He becomes an echo of someone else. The aim of life is to develop oneself. People have forgotten this.”

Since childhood, as long as I’ve been learning, I’ve often been in a state of being influenced, interacting with others makes me influenced or I influence them. Also, we often talk about how someone has a significant influence. Does it mean they are immoral people? To discuss this statement, we first need to clarify what morality is. Morality is a set of standards constructed by public thoughts to measure whether our behaviors are right or wrong. However, some influences serve to correct and lead us closer to morality. Therefore, I oppose the idea that all influence is negative, perhaps some influences are moral.

However, I agree with the second sentence: influence turns a person into an echo of the influencer. When you accept someone else's thoughts, a small part of their soul, you are inevitably affected by the ripple of that influence and become a ripple yourself. As for the final line, the aim of life is to develop oneself. I believe this is largely correct. I have become a person, but I will undoubtedly be influenced by others. If not, my life would be void of meaning. Being influenced, then processing that through our flawed brain, taking action, and being influenced again. This process allows us to develop into individuals and to feel the diverse flavors of life.

Log 5

 

I want to talk about several parts this week, including the difference between how machine learning and statistics work, and considerations for Machine Learning.

First of all, what’s the difference between these two seemingly similar yet different analysis? Linear regression analysis in statistics use a method called ordinary least squares estimation, it is a representative method; it finds the regression coefficients by minimizing the distance between each observation and hyperplane and verifies if they are important in the statistics. The equation was actually quite overwhelming to me, but I find that it’s not that hard to understand when I looked up the definition, equation, and how it’s done. To understand the whole process in statistics, understanding what a regression coefficient is is the first and foremost step. It’s the most crucial part of trying to make a prediction, and it is not possible to do it until we have this coefficient which is a number indicating how much influence the independent variable has to the dependent variable; we then use the independent variable to calculate, predict the dependent variable and after finishing it, we can get the result! The equation we use for calculating this result is as follows: . here is the dependent variable we want, you can see the small arrow above the character y, for it is a number that is a predictive number calculated by the regression analysis model rather than an actual observation data, andstands for the regression coefficient we are introducing, which is also accompanied by , a dependent variable, when combined together, it signifiesthatis the expected value when the dependent variable

is increased by one unit. Now we have finished the statistics part, but what about our main character, Machine Learning? It also uses least squares estimation; however, its advances in computing have led people to prefer to use gradient descent for rapid analysis compared to least squares estimation! The gradient descent method is to select an arbitrary weight first, and proceed by input learning data and keeps updating the weights until the minimum error on the error surface is reached. When it’s reached, it means the model is ready and we can then use the model of Machine learning to predict results. I deem the difference between these two, though not explained thoroughly and clearly, is the processing speed and the different terms used in both predictions; for example, in the linear regression equation of machine learning, H (x) = Wx + b, and the W corresponds to the slope of the independent variable x in the gradient descent. The W is expressed as a regression coefficient in statistics, but as a weight in Machine learning.

There are two main considerations for performing Machine Learning, one is underfitting, and the other one is overfitting. Underfitting means that the model is too simple to adequately explain the input data and is thus less predictive. I consider it quite severer because you simply can’t predict things with this little amount of data. The judgement of whether the model is underfitted is by examining the cost, which is the error between the model’s predicted value and its actual value. The closer it is, the better predictions it can offer. Adding additional training data is one way of compensating the problem of underfitting. Overfitting, on the other hand, is a case in which the model is too closely fitted to the training data. You may consider it a good thing, and it’s what I thought when first looked at the concept, having high in predictive power, it sounds pretty good and appealing to me. However, when the model is applied to actual fields, the predictive power is greatly reduced. I have come up with a simple example of the concept: overfitting is the kind of player who always does good in practice but always gives poor numbers and performances in actual games. The reason for this overfitting problem is quite easy to understand, because major machine learning algorithms build models in an inductive manner. As a result, how should we fix the problem? The solution is to go through a series of model validation procedures to check the validity and the feasibility of the model.

Log 5

Over the past two weeks, I read Chapter 4, “Goldfish and Kangaroo,” which describes how Sam and Jason were suddenly taken away by their parents on their way to class. The four of them went to see a psychological counselor. During the process, the parents displayed denial and resistance, Jason revealed his true feelings and stood firm on them, and Sam was filled with confusion and contradiction. However, the communication ended on a sour note, and they still couldn’t find a way to balance the situation.

For the title ”Goldfish and Kangaroo”, I think the goldfish may symbolize Sam’s familiar past life, a seemingly calm but confined sense of security. On the other hand, the kangaroo could represent Jason’s transformation, a powerful and unfamiliar presence that leaps beyond traditional boundaries and norms by challenging the Waver family’s preconceived notions of gender. These two creatures form a contrast, symbolizing their struggle between acceptance and resistance, understanding and confusion.

I feel that in this chapter, the conflicts within the Waver family became more intense during the counseling session. Under the counselor’s guidance, Jason expressed his true thoughts, while Sam and their parents strongly resisted acknowledging that Jason is a girl. The mother hopes Jason can live safely in society, the father wants to find an easy solution to “cure his son’s mental illness,” and Sam, being too young, doesn’t fully understand the situation—he only knows he doesn’t want an older sister. Although the family expressed confusion and opposition, it’s clear that none of them want Jason to be hurt. I could feel that they all love each other, otherwise they wouldn’t have spent time in the counseling session trying to communicate (even if it wasn’t entirely effective, at least they listened to each other’s thoughts). The mother even cried, and as I read this part, my eyes welled up with tears as well.

Log 5

 Reading Chapters 12 to 14 of Pride and Prejudice made me think about social pressure, self-awareness, and being true to myself. Mr. Collins is a good example of someone who follows social rules without questioning them. He is always trying to impress others, especially Lady Catherine de Bourgh, without thinking about what really makes him happy. This reminded me of times when I’ve felt pressure to do things just because they were expected of me, not because I truly wanted them.

For example, I’ve experienced times when my family or society had certain expectations for my future, whether about school, work, or relationships. Like Mrs. Bennet trying to get her daughters married, the advice often comes from a caring place but doesn’t always fit with what I want. Mr. Collins’ behavior made me think about how easy it is to focus too much on what others expect and forget about what makes me happy. Elizabeth, on the other hand, stays true to herself, even when people like Mr. Collins or her mother pressure her. This reminds me of how important it is to follow my own path and not let outside pressure change my choices.

Mr. Collins also made me think about self-awareness. He acts like he’s very important, but he doesn’t realize how others see him. This reminded me that it’s important to balance confidence with being aware of how I affect others. Elizabeth shows that it’s possible to be confident but also considerate of others’ feelings, which is something I try to work on in my own life.

These chapters show the importance of staying true to yourself, even when others have different expectations. It’s something I continue to learn as I face choices and challenges in my own life.

Log 5

 

I finished the whole book, “The skeleton tree.” I really love the novels that portray mind changing moments and growth of teenagers. I could see my reflection in the books. Like the moments when I felt like I was confined in despair, overwhelmed by tedious life, and longing for recognition. Trapped in a barren island, the two boys went from hating each other to supporting and love.

After reading this book, I realized that even the most trivial talks or conversations could break down the chains on your heart. Be less hostile toward people and talk more sincerely is the way to open your mind. Anger, fear, and anxiety. All kinds of emotions you may encounter when you are growing up were described perfectly in the passages. The anger of self-uselessness, the fear of being mocked, and the anxiety of the inadequacy of ability. Who had never met these difficulties during puberty? Who had never been criticized harshly? Who had never tried to get rid of trivial troubles and bureaucracy? The answer is everyone had. Everyone experienced hardships and senses of inferiority and insecurity.

The protagonist, Chris, was eager to earn his father’s recognition. But his father was always acting indifferent. Making itches in his heart. When I read this plot, I felt devastated. I was trying to earn my significant one’s recognition, too. Instead of gratitude and compliments, he took all my effort for granted. I felt sad and frustrated. I think that I shared some similar experience with Chris, which is the reason why this novel is really intriguing to me.

Log 5_The Queen's Gambit

In the part I read this week, the author focused on two main incidents Beth went through. One was that she went to a senior high school to play chess with some male students in the chess club at the school. Another was that she illegally snuck into the room in which a big jar of tranquilizer was stored. I think the two incidents could be extremely indispensable in Beth's life, for both of them gave Beth an unforgettable lesson and significant influence.

In the first incident, Beth was invited by Mr. Ganz, who was the teacher in the chess club at the senior high school, to play chess with students there. Students there were big as men for Beth, and twelve of those "big" students were seated in a U shape to play chess with Beth. Beth felt tense on her way to the school, but she took a tranquilizer before playing with them. When she stood in front of those students, she knew that she was unbeatable. As what she thought, she prevailed over all of them in the end. For me, the discriptions of the process Beth was playing with them, Beth and other students' emotion shifts, the methods she used to beat them, and the students' reactions after losing to Beth were all compelling. One can be charismatic when he/she find something that he/she is so good at, and when he/she is doing it, a strong belief that he/she is unbeatable emerges in mind. I am still looking for that particular thing that makes me charismatic in my life, and I hope I can find it soon, so I can be unbeatable. (I may just want to feel the sensation in person.)

In the second incident, Beth ventured the room where the tranquilizers were put in. Since the institution stop giving traquilizers to them, Beth had not been sleeping well, unless she took one of the ones she hid secretly before. Beth could not fall asleep without a tranquilizer, so she decided to sneak into the room to get some tranquilizers. I have never taken any of tranquilizers before and I am curious about this drug (or substance). I searched it online, and found some explanations on Wikipedia. "A sedative or tranquilliser is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement. They are CNS depressants and interact with brain activity causing its deceleration. Various kinds of sedatives can be distinguished, but the majority of them affect the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In spite of the fact that each sedative acts in its own way, most produce relaxing effects by increasing GABA activity. Sedatives can be used to produce an overly-calming effect (alcohol being the most common sedating drug). In the event of an overdose or if combined with another sedative, many of these drugs can cause sleep and even death." Beth had an addiction to tranquilizers, and it really caused a serious effect on her. Consuming medicines/drugs/substances is essential for people in need, yet taking them carefully and correctly is far more important.

Log 5

 

This time, I read different chapters from Grimms' Fairy Tales, and the story I chose is A Riddling Tale.

This story made me feel tense and excited, but in the end, I felt relieved and happy. When the prince decided to enter the witch’s house, I was worried for him because he knew there was danger but still chose to stay. When the witch brought out the poisoned wine, I got even more nervous, afraid that he would fall for her trap. Luckily, the prince and his servant listened to the girl’s warning and avoided the danger, which made me feel relieved.

The servant was very smart—he used the poisoned crow to make the bad people at the inn pay for their evil deeds. That moment gave me a sense of relief because the villains were punished. When the prince decided to challenge the princess’s riddle, I got worried again because many people had failed before and even lost their lives. The princess trying to eavesdrop made me angry, but the servant’s cleverness stopped her plan, which made me very happy.

In the end, when the prince exposed the princess’s trick and the judges declared him the winner, I felt really satisfied. This story taught me the importance of courage, wisdom, and honesty, and the ending made me feel like justice had been served. Even though the story was filled with danger, the happy ending left me feeling comforted.

Log 5

So far, Annie and Buster are still trying hard to find out the truth behind their parents’ disappearance. They start to deeply review their parents’ past performance art works, and try to understand their parents’ motivations and intentions through these clues. Even though they suspect their parents’ disappearance might be one of their performance art works, there’s no evidence showing whether their parents are still alive and are really conducting their performance art or have truly died…

However, the more I read, the more I realize that Annie and Buster are gradually understanding that the Fang couple never cared about their growth or emotions. The only thing they’ve ever cared about is pursuing the performance art they love. This links back to what I mentioned before in a previous log about irresponsible parents. The Fang couple not only failed to fulfill their duties as parents but also manipulated and forced their children to do performance arts “which only they themselves liked.” They never cared about their children’s feelings. These kinds of parents, who use their children to achieve their own goals, are just like those parents in the news who earn money through their children—taking advantage of their children’s cuteness by sending them to be models for magazines and videos. Most people might think that children don’t even have a problem with whether they like it or not, or that children should listen to adults to be considered good kids… These self-righteous adults never really care about their children. Many things are just “as long as they (the adults) are happy” or even “why should children care about so much?” so that ignored the children’s feelings. Although I don’t really feel qualified to criticize parents for their failures, I do feel a lot of disgust towards these behaviors of adults.

Actually, Annie and Buster slowly start to feel the coldness and indifference of their parents too. They choose to step out of this huge shadow and face a “life of their own” instead of a “life controlled by others.” I think I can somewhat empathize with how hard it must be for them to escape from that shadow. It must be really painful and tormenting, and not something that could be overcome easily. In fact, many people live for a long time with an unshakable shadow in their hearts. If I were one of these siblings, Annie or Buster, I think it would be very difficult for me to step out of such a long shadow as well. Even if my life seemed to have stabilized, I would still likely be filled with fear and anxiety, constantly worrying whether someone else might force me to do something again…

This book, whether from the perspective of the Fang couple or the children, makes me reflect on the relationship between me and my family in real life and the way my parents educated me growing up. It makes me realize how truly lucky and happy I am as a child!!!

Log 5

 

Last week, I borrowed a book from the school library. This book was “How to stop breaking your own heart” written by Meggan Roxanne. The reason I chose this book is because when I saw the title of the book, I was curious about what “heartbreaking” meant in this book. At that time, I thought maybe it was about what people nowadays siad “走心.” If it was this meaning, I thought I really needed to read this book. Sometimes, I will feel heartbreaking due to people’s kidding. Although we are just playing and they don’t have that meaning, I still feel sad. As a result, I hope this book will help me break the obstacle. 

This week, I finished reading chapter one. This section mentioned that sometimes we all ignore our own needs and just to make someone else feel happy.  When I read this sentence, I felt like the author was just talking to me. Last week, I saw my friend posted a story on Instagram that said she felt bad and she was crying at the park. As soon as I saw her post, I replied to her right away and said I can accompany her if she needed. It was midnight and I was just going to bed, but I still thought I needed to help her. However, until now, she hasn’t replied to my message. That night, I waited a long time for her, even though I fell asleep, I still checked my phone and saw if she replied when I got up to go to the bathroom. I couldn’t sleep well that night. Now, I still wonder why I did that for her, maybe she didn’t need my help or she didn’t want my help. Why did I focus more on my own and sleep well? 

“That feeling of betrayal is a gentle warning from your intuition, alerting you that the choices you’re making are not in alignment with your intentions. You’re not being true to yourself and, in turn, you’re slipping into the same pattern of putting others above yourself.” This is my favorite sentence in this chapter. Now, I know that I should care more about myself. This doesn’t mean I will not help others in the future, rather, I need to see that what I do will not “hurt” myself.

Log 5

In the next four chapters in the Tiger in the Mud, Otto describes his memories during 1941 to 1943, after his unpromising beginning. Although Otto preferred to write his story practically, and there were seldom exaggerated descriptions, I still can’t help but keep imagining a dramatic turning point. The turning point that explains how Otto got rid of his unfortunate trough and got his infamous ride: the “Tiger”. So I kept reading with patience. After Otto’s failure in the advanced officer course, his bad luck was just about to begin. Since Otto belonged to a replacement battalion, which means they were never the most important part in the army. He never got the resupply after his 38(t) tank was destroyed. And they also lacked the equipment and new crew. Most of the time, Otto was working as an infantryman or combat engineer, cleaning the mines or roadblock, which was much more dangerous. During this period, Otto did get some promotion, but usually it was because his superior was K.I.A(Killed In Action). He also lost some of his friends, comrades, he particularly pointed out that his reliable commander died because of an accident during the training. To this point, I can find no more positive emotion in Otto’s story. The experience in the war just forced him to realize the cruel reality. Thankfully, this kind of life lasted until1943, Otto finally had some change in his story: he got the chance to join the company who was responsible for testing on the new tanks.

I already started guessing the exact reason when I was reading this part. Was it because of a heroic, remarkable performance? Did he manage to get involved in a famous battle on the East Front? Where and when did his legend start? Well, I did find my unexpected answer, but it didn’t excite me at all. During Otto’s trough, he was often sent to different places having different duties. While he was moving from one position to another, he managed to get to know a lot of people, including the rear logistics personnel and technician. So Otto was recommended to the company and was sent to Paris, waiting to receive his “Tiger” tanks with other crew. This fact surprised me. I can’t believe one of the best tank commanders would start his career with such a plain and normal beginning. It was not dramatic at all, I would even say this was too realistic to be accepted. Otto did make it to get rid of his trough, not by his performance, but with his good connections and luck. I had to admit, my disappointment was immeasurable in the beginning.

But I told myself, it’s always been a story about a normal guy struggling in the war. It was never a movie(maybe it will have an adaptation one day) and it shouldn’t have any heroism. And of course, Otto was never a hero, either. I know it in my bones, without his reputation, he was also a common guy with his own family, dream and life. He was not even the best tanker in his era, according to his early performance. I think he was just the right person in the right place and timing, who also exactly had enough abilities to make some change. Indeed, we can never deny his achievements after 1943. But I would really like to build up a correct and objective cognition of these historical figures. 

 

Log 5

This time, I chose to read The Adventures of Tintin. It’s obvious that we all know this is a comic book, but as I was reading it, I started thinking about whether comics can also serve as a learning tool. In my view, the answer is yes. Compared to long texts, comics present the story and dialogue through vivid images, helping readers understand the context more intuitively, making language learning easier and more fun. For adults who are looking to learn a foreign language, comics offer simple and easy-to-understand conversations, paired with rich backgrounds, which can quickly boost vocabulary and improve reading fluency.

Most importantly, I believe this helps us rediscover the joy of reading. In the midst of a high-pressure environment, reading comics allows us to relax while gaining knowledge and pleasure at the same time. Therefore, I think comics are not exclusively for children; for adults, they can also be a learning tool and a source of inspiration to spark our interest in reading.

Week 8

Dear all,

We are halfway through the semester, and reading and writing will continue, involving video viewing and composition. As mentioned earlier, you will compose your digital story based on your narrative essay. Therefore, whether you'll create an appealing digital story that is inviting to your audience and also satisfying yourself depends, first, on how sincerely you write your story and how delicately you illustrate the details with good flow, demonstrating that this story is truly special, memorable, and meaningful to you. 

Secondly, we will discuss how multimodal semiotic resources can be used for your expression. Before that, I'll try to finish a short presentation on "technologies of self" and depict why we have to do DST in a conventional reading and writing course! One 14-minute TED talk on "the power of personal narrative" will tell us even more convincingly that this task is necessary for all students. He'll mention three building blocks to help us find and build our personal narratives.

We'll view more examples, including pure images and videos for discussions and critique as practice and preparation for your own DST.

As we approach mid-term week, it's crucial to remind you that you will write an essay during the third hour. To ensure your full concentration and the integrity of the assessment, no computer, cell phone, or iPad is allowed on the table. You will start by brainstorming and outlining your ideas, and then you will complete the essay within 40 minutes. Both materials will be collected.

Lastly, since we have postponed the deadline for Essay#2, I will also give you one more week to do your log 6. 

See you tomorrow morning!

Log 5

    

    After reading " The Old Man And The Sea", I clearly understand that the main themes of the book is struggle and perseverance. The old man, Santiago faces many challenges: his old age, bad luck, and the tremendous strength of the marlin. Despite these obstacles, he refuses to give up.What impressed me the most is what he said “A man can be destroyed but not defeated,” which captures the essence of his determination. The fish drags him far out into the ocean, and the battle becomes a test of endurance. Santiago’s pain and suffering highlight his inner strength and resilience. He is not just fighting the fish, but also proving to himself that he still has the skill and spirit of a great fisherman.

    Another important thing I learn from the book is the relationship between humans and nature. Unlike other fishmen, Santiago deeply respects the marlin and sees it as a worthy opponent. Sometimes, he even sympathizes with the fish, calling it “brother.” Santiago understands the ocean and its creatures, recognizing both its beauty and its harshness. In the end, nature proves to be more powerful as sharks eat the marlin, leaving only the skeleton. I was sad when reading this plot, I felt a pity that the effort Santiago made had been in vain. Yet, this also reminds us that while humans can strive to conquer nature, we are ultimately at its mercy. Just like those inevitable natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoon, etc.

    To sum up, I think "The Man And The Sea" is a powerful story about human strength, endurance, and the inevitable forces of nature. Santiago’s battle with the marlin is a personal journey of pride, respect, and understanding. Also, I respect the author very much because he use simple language and profound themes make the book a timeless reflection on life’s struggles. The story teaches me that sometimes, the most important victories are not the ones we win, but the ones where we never give up.

Log 5

 "School Pictures" describes August expressing his strong aversion, not a phobia, to having his picture taken, especially for school photos. He recounts an experience where he managed to avoid having an individual portrait taken but was forced to participate in the class photo. August didn't smile for the picture and notes that the photographer seemed displeased with the lack of enthusiasm.

"The Cheese Touch" talks about August reflects on how, despite classmates getting used to them, they avoid physical contact. An incident in a science class where classmates clustered together, leaving August alone, emphasizes this isolation. August compares his situation to the "Cheese Touch" from Diary of a Wimpy Kid, feeling like the outcast nobody wants to touch to be associated with.

These two paragraphs highlight feelings of social anxiety, aversion, and exclusion in school.

For me, I think deeply touched by science. I know most of the people usually judge a person by their cover, however, maybe sometimes we should get rid of fixed thinking, and try to get along with different people. Not just meet or know a person by their appearance. I know the feeling of being isolated by classmates, it's a really bad feeling. School is one of your social places of belonging, if there is no place for you, then where else can there be a place for you? Therefore, we should try to make this world become a warmer environment, making people feel there is a place for them.

Log 5

 

       During these two weeks, I constantly read the book from chapters 12 to 16. I was impressed by the beginning of chapter 14. Because Bruno knew that Shmuel was bullied by a bad boy, he assumed that there were bullies all over the world, not just in school.

        However, it recalled my painful memory from the past. When I was fourth grade, I had falling out with one of my friends. The reason why we argued was because she said I lacked of chemistry with another friend. From my perspective, she was trying to drive a wedge between us, so we did not talk for a few days. I thought it was just a small argument, but I didn't expect it to escalate to the principal's office. She thought she was bullied by my friend and me, so she told her parents. Then, her parents told her to inform me that my parents had gone to principal's office to negotiate about the matter with them.

        On that day when they negotiated, neither of us could show up, I heard my mother say what happened in the principle's office. She told me that her parents printed out all of our chats on Facebook and said I was such a poorly mannered child since I said something bad about a teacher who wouldn’t let us extend the math exam time. However, their daughter deleted all the messages she had sent to me, so they did not know that what was actually bad-mouthing the teacher too. I thought I was bullied by her parents. I could not understand why they had to blow this situation out of proportion. No one knew. Surprisingly, I made up with her. We were still friends.

        Do you think we became best friends? No, there was another argument that happened when we were in fifth grade. At that time, a Japanese called, Death Note was popular in Taiwan, and many teenagers liked it. One day, a classmate found that she had a Death Note. She wrote down my name on the notebook. It made me furious. I did not understand why she did such a terrible thing. Then, we argued and stopped talking again. After a few days, I found that she had posted my photo and typed something bad on her Instagram. I thought it was cyberbullying. However, our parents did not negotiate in the principle's office again this time. Only our mentor negotiate with us. Because many people stood by me, so mentor thought it was my fault. I thought I had been treated unfairly, but I did not know how to defend myself at that time. I took it lying down without say anything. This time, we were no longer friends.

        Through the painful experiences, I hated the silent treatment when I argued with friends. I made up my mind to speak my mind as long as I had argument with others. Therefore, I could avoid the same thing happening again and again.

Log 5

 

     This chapter explains that storytelling surpasses cold facts or data in terms of influence. Because stories connect with people emotionally and are easier to remember. The author demonstrates that stories shape views, inspire change, and drive progress by discussing historical examples, such as Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have a Dream" speech. At the beginning of the speech, King started reading from his script, but when someone asked him to speak from the heart, tell them the dream! King put the script aside and said the famous, memorable sentence, "I have a dream." However, the speech was not originally titled "I Have a Dream." Instead, it focused primarily on civil rights, racial justice, and the economic disparities faced by African Americans. While the "I Have a Dream" section became the most famous part, it was not planned as the central theme. And that part had become the most impressive part for everyone. Another example is Mark Twain, who was perhaps the greatest storyteller of modern times. Twain would read his works aloud to his wife and children during the editing process. If a passage bored them, he would cut it out. If their eyes widened, they leaned forward, or furrowed their brows, Twain knew he had found something good and would redouble his efforts. This shows that how to “tell” to make people attracted by your words is the key point.

     This chapter highlights that storytelling is not just a communication tool, it is the ability to create emotional resonance and, build consensus through the people, rather than raw data. In business, a compelling story can make a product outstanding and bestselling in the market, while in education, stories help students grab complex concepts more easily than data or monotonous words. Therefore, it indicates that storytelling is a key skill in all areas of life. Whether we’re brainstorming an idea, writing an essay or story, or teaching others new knowledge or skills, the ability to tell a story helps us engage our audience and make our telling more persuasive. People who invent or discover new things won’t be noticed, whereas people who can describe an old thing in a vivid and engaging way will be seen and praised.

     The Best Story Wins left a deep impression on me, especially regarding the importance of storytelling in both personal and professional settings. One of my key takeaways is that storytelling goes far beyond simply “saying” the events in, it’s about building an emotional connection with the readers. Whether we’re sharing personal experiences or promoting ideas, the ability to tell a vivid and engaging story can make the difference between being heard and being ignored. This concept of having the ability to communicate clearly is crucial, but this chapter showed that it’s not just about clarity—it’s about making an emotional impact to attract people’s attention.

     I realized how crucial descriptive and narrative writing skills are in effective storytelling.  Through vividly describing scenes, emotions, and actions, a story can be immersive, making people feel as though they are experiencing in person. This aligns with my efforts to improve my writing. I’ve been working on making my descriptions more detailed and my narratives more engaging to fully immerse the reader in this semester, and this chapter reinforced how vital those skills are. When a writer uses sensory details and carefully chosen words, they bring the story to life, allowing readers to connect on a deeper level, something that raw statistics cannot achieve.

     I also began to see how storytelling applies to personal growth. By telling our own stories—whether reflecting on past experiences or imagining future goals, we can better understand ourselves and communicate those insights to others. For me, storytelling has become a way of organizing my thoughts and emotions, making sense of challenges I’ve faced, and sharing lessons I’ve learned in a way that others might relate to. This introspective process is something I want to develop more, not only in writing but also in how I present myself in conversations and personal interactions.

     Moreover, as I consider my future career goals, I see storytelling skills as a powerful tool that need to learn by ourselves to make us different from others. Whether in a job interview, a presentation, or a casual discussion, a well-told story can capture attention and make ideas memorable. In fields like marketing, teaching, or leadership, the ability to weave facts into a compelling narrative can motivate others, build trust, and inspire action. This chapter has motivated me to keep refining my narrative skills, both written and verbal, so I can effectively share my own stories and ideas in a way that resonates with people and obtain their trust.

Log 5

Although I didn’t read a lot this time, what impressed me the most in these chapters was Mary’s change in personality.

In India, Mary was used to servants obeying her every command, which made her arrogant and spoiled. However, after arriving at the manor, she met Martha, a straightforward servant who didn’t treat her differently because of her status. Instead, Martha treated her as an equal. This might have given Mary a new experience, allowing her to reflect on her relationships and way of life. When Mary frequently heard crying sounds, her curiosity was awakened. Unlike before, when she was indifferent to her surroundings, she began to take an interest in unknown things. Even though she didn’t want to admit this curiosity might have stemmed from care. This could be seen as the beginning of her growth, which started from being self-centered to gradually paying attention to the world around her. Also, as she enjoyed outdoor activities and spent more time in nature, her health and mood improved.

Additionally, I think a key turning point was when Mary found the key to the secret garden. She became more proactive and eager to explore, no longer just passively adapting to life at the manor. She replaced her complaints with actions, which helped her grow mentally. When the canary led her to the entrance of the secret garden and she opened it, it might symbolize her stepping out of her closed-off world into one full of potential and vitality, gradually connecting with the world and becoming more positive and responsible.

Through these chapters, we can see how much a person's environment can influence them. A person, especially during childhood, has a strong desire to explore and can learn and encounter many things in this period. In the earlier chapters, Mary's lonely personality was shaped by a lack of love and a closed environment. But after coming to the manor, meeting kind people, and connecting with nature, it was as if she escaped from a dark, lonely cage. She opened her heart to the outside world, making her mind healthier. During her exploration, she realized there was much more to the world than just bossing people around. There were many new and interesting things to discover, and this makes me excited to see how Mary will transform the garden and whether she will develop a special emotional connection to it, learning the meaning of love.

Log 5

 In these next chapters, things take a pretty big turn for Ana and Christian, and honestly, I feel like Ana is getting pulled deeper into something she’s not sure she can handle. Christian opens up more, showing her a side of him that’s darker and more complicated. He’s got all these secrets and baggage, and you can really feel how much it weighs on both of them. Ana tries to keep up, but I can tell she’s overwhelmed, and it makes me feel for her. It’s like, no matter how much she likes him, this world of his is just a lot to take in.

One of the big things in these chapters is how Ana starts to really question whether she can be part of Christian’s world. There’s this constant back-and-forth in her head, like she’s trying to balance her feelings for him with how uncomfortable his controlling tendencies make her. At one point, she’s almost ready to walk away. And, honestly, I don’t blame her. Christian is still so intense about controlling everything—her car, what she eats, even where she goes. It’s no wonder Ana starts feeling like she’s losing herself. I can see her frustration growing, and it makes me nervous for what’s going to happen between them.

But at the same time, Christian is starting to show a more vulnerable side, which makes things even more complicated for Ana. There are these moments where you can tell he’s struggling too, and I think that’s part of why Ana doesn’t just leave. She sees the cracks in his armor, and even though he tries to act tough and in control, he’s clearly hurting. It’s hard not to feel for him a little bit. I can understand why Ana feels like she can’t just walk away, even when she knows it might be the smarter choice.

There’s this one scene that really sticks with me, where Ana confronts Christian about his past. You can feel the tension in the room, and honestly, it was making me anxious just reading it. Christian is so guarded, and you can see how much it hurts him to talk about it. But Ana keeps pushing because she needs to know what she’s getting into. I love that she’s starting to stand up for herself more. She’s not just letting Christian control the narrative anymore, and it’s a big step for her character. It feels like she’s starting to realize that if she’s going to stay in this, she needs to do it on her terms, not just his.

The chapters end with Ana feeling even more torn than before. She’s gotten closer to Christian, but that’s also made her realize just how far apart they are in some ways. There’s still so much she doesn’t know about him, and it’s like every time she gets a little closer, something pulls them apart again. It’s hard not to feel anxious for her, because it’s like she’s teetering on the edge of something that could either be amazing or completely destructive.

By the end of these chapters, I’m left wondering what’s going to happen next. Ana seems stronger, but at the same time, the deeper she goes, the more danger there seems to be—emotionally, I mean. It’s hard not to feel a little bit protective of her, hoping she doesn’t lose herself completely in Christian’s complicated world.

Log 5

For this week’s blog, I chose another book to read since I’ve almost finished reading the first book. The new book I selected is called “build the life you want,” which mainly focuses on the meaning of emotions and the ways to live with emotions, no matter good or bad. The reason I chose this book is that mental health is a very crucial issue for modern people that is often overlooked, so I want to spend some time getting deeper into this topic. This week, I read the first chapter, which includes the content like “myths about happiness,” “what is happiness,” “the role of unhappiness,” “appreciating bad feelings,” etc. These sub-chapters are what touched me the most after reading the whole chapter.

Before I read this book, I thought that pursuing happiness is a life goal, and nothing is more important than being happy. Therefore, I always blindly followed the methods provided by other people saying that they may help me become happier, like painting, doing exercise, mountain-climbing, etc. Though I did feel delighted at the beginning, I gradually lost the enthusiasm of doing these things and found them less useful to amuse me, for they were not the things I truly liked. And also, I didn’t really know what made me happy. Apart from chasing after happiness, I also regarded negative feelings as a bad thing before, deeming they were just like a beast torturing our hearts. With that idea in mind, I tended to avoid these emotions, trying to persuade myself to quickly get out of this situation and try to be happier. This behavior instead made me get stuck in the negative emotion for a very long time. However, after I read the first chapter, I totally changed my mind. Now in my view, happiness is not a goal but a direction; unhappiness is not absolutely a bad thing but something that may help you grow and learn. If we just consistently pursue happiness with purposes, then we won’t truly become happier. We have to know that being happy is a temporary status, not a permanent status. Even if we feel pleasant, there might be other mixtures of emotions in our mood at the same time. That is to say, it’s nearly impossible that we feel completely happy. As a result, it’s meaningless for us to intentionally pursue happiness. On the other hand, sometimes being in a bad mood is not definitely a poor thing. Take a normal thing that all human beings will encounter for example. We all make mistakes, sometimes it’s serious while sometimes it’s not. When making mistakes, we may be scolded by parents, teachers or classmates, and that might affect our mood. But it is those mistakes that make us grow and learn from the experience. When we look back at the past mistakes we've made, we will instead cherish those experiences making us become a better and stronger person. 

I pretty adore the sentence the author mentioned in the conclusion. It said, “be grateful for the bees, not just the honey.” In our life, there must be ups and downs. Life is not plain sailing. Thus, we should enjoy every moment in our life, no matter if it is good or bad. These experiences are a part of our life journey. Just like you know, there might be some surprises or accidents during the journey. So why not just take your life as a journey? These surprises or accidents will be unforgettable things in your whole life. They might even be a vital turning point that makes you become a unique person. In a nutshell, embrace your life without any fears and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime journey !