Jacob+Robison

‍‍‍‍To be honest I'm having a bit of trouble thinking of things that affected my life, in fact I'm kind of making it up as I go along right now. Maybe dullness affected my life, I don't know. One thing I do know, is that my parents definitely affected me. This is probably a giveaway since parents have been known to raise their kids, but they really have. Although, in order to understand how they affected me, you need to know about my second affect, my families income. My families income is, well, low. I don't want to seem like I'm unhappy about were my families is financially, because were fine, were not poor. I also know there are a lot more kids in our school who have less money that I do. On the other hand my parents don't have enough money to buy me a car, or especially a college education like other kid's parent can. Once again, I know I'm not alone in this department either, it just seems that way to me. How my parents make and survive on that income inspires me. I've seen first hand how hard my dad works (I know, I work for him). He does landscaping and he seems to know everything about it, he also never cuts corners. When I work for him, we will spend an hour of work on something you can't even see, just because it should be done. My mom is also pretty amazing. She was a stay-at-home-mom for along time when my sister and I were growing up, and I'm sure everyone knows how hard that job is (good thing too, one less thing I have to describe). Recently though, she went back to collage to get a degree in teaching and that in it's self is amazing. Today she is a pre-school teacher, which is awesome because she loves kids. Since she's already crying about me going to collage, I think she'll probably use her preschool kids as a crutch for that dark period between mom and grandma. The third thing that affected me was wrestling. Besides the slightly offensive, but not entirely inaccurate stereotypes, its a great sport. I've been apart of it since 4th grade. In my entire high school career, I was in or near the lowest weight class that was available. Although I have hardly improved, those days practicing in the wrestling room have been some of the most challenging days of my life (yep, a dull __and__ easy life). It has showed me how to push myself beyond what I though I could do and more. The forth thing that affected me was working on my family tree (If you can't tell, I'm running out of ideas). Working on my family tree has showed me that living your life safely and normally, won't get you remembered. Doing great and spectacular things is what makes people remember you. Things like that will make your great grand kid proud to have you in his family tree. The fifth thing that affected my life was my computer, and this isn't a good effect. Whenever I spend time on my computer (PC game addict), I feel like that time was completely and utterly wasted. When I get up from my computer, I have faint memories of what was going on around me. Then I normally stand there, trying to grasp all the thoughts before they slips away. After that I avoid my computer like the plague for about an hour before I'm back on it. I guess this kind of thing might help me later in life. I think it might make me live my life to a fuller extent out of fear I might waste even more time than I already have. The sixth thing that has affected me is my close family. I know it seems that I already touched on this, but there's more. When most people tell a story about their cousins, it typically takes place around a poorly constructed card table during thanksgiving, with themselves being the oldest kid surrounded by 6 year olds. In my family, its different. Since my mom is a twin, her sister is the same age, go figure. That also means that their kids are also probably going to be the same age, and that's how it turned out. My aunt had a boy and a girl, each one year younger than me and my sister. Needlessly to say, we get along, and I believe that has caused me be more appreciative of family than most people are. The seventh thing that has effected my life is hunting. Although I have only ever got one pheasant and one doe. In my defense I don't get many chances to go out, but I'm not saying that I don't suck either. Whatever the case, I like to get my own food and see where it comes from. Plus there's a little bit of prestige that comes with being the one that put the food on the table, even though I'm the only one that seems to remember. With that said, I plan on passing down this tradition to my kids. My eighth affect is my "disposition towards socialization". Don't get me wrong I like company as much as the next guy, but I also like being alone with my thoughts. I think that's why I never really had a set group of best friends, which I don't have to much of a problem with. In a way I think it might even benefit me. In my eyes (as bias as they are) it makes me, in a way, more myself than anyone is their self. I guess this is because when you hang around with the same person for a long time, you kind of "take in" their personality and act the way they do. The ninth thing that has effected me is my obsession with history. I'm not sure why I like history so much. Maybe it has something to-do with that fact that its a bunch of stories, except that they actually happened. Something about being able to go to the place where an event happened, or feeling the object that played a role in that event is unreal. The fact that you can even make a connection to history through your ancestry makes it specially entertaining for me. This obsession has giving me a certain amount of respect for the past and those who dwelt in it. Finally, the last thing that has affected me is this school and the people in it. I think this school really has prepared me for collage and the rest of my life. The classes and the teachers have done a great job, but the students here are pretty great too. Every now and then I sake my head at the kids here because they did something stupid without thinking, but more often than not, I'm shocked at how friendly and nice people here can be. In the end, I am proud to belong to this school (that was hard to type...).

Taylor Rohrbaugh:

Hi Jacob! I thought your paragraph was very touching. I learned so much about you that I never knew before. I got to see a whole different side of you! Your mentality is very optimistic which is a wonderful quality to hold. I'm glad I got the chance to read your paragraph!

Jess Davis: I thought your paragraph was very eye-opening. I know that many people have heard of the phrase "never judge a book by its cover" but I would have never guessed some of the things about you that you wrote in here. I completely agree with your view of socializing. I like company but I also enjoy being by myself.‍‍‍‍

Caleb Gerberick- I definitely agree with what you said in here and, like Taylor and Jess said, I learned some things that I didn't know about you. I also really enjoy just being alone to think sometimes. What you said about being the one that your great-grandkids are proud to have in their family tree is a great goal to have.

You are an excellent school citizen! I love your interest in history! -Mrs. Sands

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I'm not too certain if I've ever said a word to you before (I think we might've talked in middle school during cross country, if I'm not mistaken?) but after reading this I feel as thought I've almost missed out on an interesting person. I used to spend hours a day in front of the computer screen as well, so I know exactly what you mean about that empty hole in time you're talking about. Your ideals on socialization are just how I feel too, and is a reason I tend to not go out with others as much as most people do. -Alex Hess =====

Le Morte d'Arthur What do you think about this part of the book? **Record the title of the book and the pages you have read. Also, please label the different sections. Where are the 3 different sections you were to address?** From the beginning, I knew I was going to be fascinated by this book. Not only by its story, but by its origin as well. It’s almost like I was analyzing this book the entire time instead of reading it. Every time the book said one thing, I processed it in my mind so many different ways. The origin of the story and the story itself, are both going to be analyzed. I goes without saying that the history and origin of the Legend of King Arthur interreges me. This book is just one faze in the confusing evolution of the story, but before we get to //Le Morte d’Arthur//, we must first look at the very beginning. The story takes place in post Roman occupied Britain and during the invasion of the Saxons. This would place it somewhere in the 5th century AD. At this time, the Native Britons would be seen more as a tribal people, not like the knights in shining armor portrayed in //Le Morte d’Arthur//. These people would have been tattooed and painted with blue designs all over their body. Chariots may have also been a weapon of choice on the battlefield. Although all of these things seem to create a totally alien picture of the ancient British people, there were some commonalities. They were still based on a system of government that favored those of noble blood, they also build defenses that would latter morph into what we could call castles. Not only that, but ancient and medieval British people were both built on a Celtic heritage. Also, it should be mentioned that once the Romans took over southern Britain, many of the ancient traits were lost, creating a more “modern” people. These ancient people of course had leaders, one of these is believed to be the man who inspired King Arthur. He was likely a chieftain of some sort and it is thought that he played a role in fending of the invading enemy. This enemy was the Saxons. Today, it is still questioned whether or not the “invasion” of these Germanic people was peaceful or violent. Should the tale of King Arthur hold any sway over the matter, it was clearly violent. The story in the book, //Le Morte d’Arthur//, paints a typical scene of late medieval England. Nobles in full plate armor, a clearly defined feudal system, and a high sense of honor and chivalry. This sense of honor plays a very important role in the book. It creates plot after plot, when noble after noble, vows to finish a deed on pain of death. Many of these men follow through on their vows, choosing rather to die than lose any sense of honor. This, paired up with the fast pace of the book, creates a tale with no room for dull areas. There is something constantly happening in this book. There are some stories where the scenes and the people are exactly the same in the end as in the beginning, but this is not one of those stories. The author chose to fill his book with more adventures and plot turns in place of detail and descriptions. At first I thought I would miss the detailed descriptions, but the exciting stories that replace them defiantly make up for it. I also like the realistic approach to the characters. They all are intertwined with each other. Each has a different relationship with the other, and this creates a web of relations. These threads of friendship or hate could be cut and changed at any moment, leading to betrayal or forgiveness. It’s interesting to watch the relationships evolve overtime. All in all, the origin of the story and the book itself create a very interesting reading experience. I’ll be enjoying a moment in the story, but then I’ll transform it in my mind to the original story. It will go from a book full of knights and stone castles, to a legend of painted warriors and tribal chieftains. I love stories with a history. I like to ponder the possibility of the story being true in some way or another. Then I try to understand how the details of that story changed into what I’m reading today. All in all, I think the book is incredibly interesting, both in its origin as a legend, a ** What happened here??????? **

Le Morte d'Arthur What is this part of the book about? As this book is centered on the life of a king, it only makes sense that it portrays the many roles that a king must to succeed. This section of the book focused on just that, unlike the earlier half of the book which focused on the up comings of King Arthur. It also deals with the stories surrounding the men who support the king, his knights. One of the first things to happen during the second half of the book, was a series of unfortunate events for Sir Balin. It started when Sir Bali upset his liege, King Arthur by killing the of Lady Lake who had supported the king. After Sir Balin was banished from King Arthur’s court, he began to wander from place to place. At one point, he ended a castle where a father’s son was dying. After he left to help them, he found a way to save the son, but caused a religious curse to fall on the entire for several years. Later, he tried to help a distraught lover, whose betrothed had found another. When Sir Balin had taken him to find her, they discovered her with her new lover. The distraught man killed the two and then himself, because he was so upset by what he say. Later yet, his brother and himself, unknowing killed each other. His was just one of the stories of one of the knights of King Arthur’s court. The next thing to happen was the marriage of King Arthur. He desired to marry lady Gwynevere, despite Merlin’s other option he presented to him. Gwynevere’s father was eager to have her daughter the King of Brittan. Therefore, the wedding when well and Gwynevere became the Queen. Throughout the rest of this section, she remains loyal to her husband. After the wedding, a power struggle ensues. After receiving the round table and filling the empty seats, King Arthur begins to favor some knights over others. Those who he offends have already began to plot against him. While those who he favors, pledge their loyalty and stand by their liege. Lastly, the events that happened toward the end of the section revolve around revenge and loyalty. People really begin to show their discontent with King Arthur, both his enemies, and people he trusted. One of those he trusted was his sister, Morgan Le Fay. She attempted to have him killed several times, so that she could take the throne.** This is actually incomplete. 20/25 **
 * You are supposed to have 3 parts: Summary, Analysis and Application! **
 * Also, you did not include the page numbers like I asked for! **