Jade Grant's Blog

 Some may believe that love at first sight doesn't exist, that it's an outlandish and maybe even childish concept. But Romeo is a living testament to that statement. Immediately after setting his eyes upon Juliet, he fell in love. He describes Juliet as a "rich jewel" (1.5.53) and a "snowy dove' (1.5.55), remarks that showcase her beauty and "bright" presence. He'd never seen "true beauty till this night". (1.5.60) Coldplay's "Sparks" is the perfect song to illustrate Romeo's emotions. The lines "My heart is yours/It's you that I hold on to" relates back to how Romeo feels about Juliet. Despite his recent infatuation with Rosaline, Romeo has his gaze on Juliet, and Juliet only. His heart is hers. A recurring verse throughout the song is "I saw sparks". I know for sure that Romeo would be listening to this song on repeat because Romeo saw sparks with Juliet. Cupid must've made an appearance ...

Reading this story was a roller coaster of emotions. It was interesting seeing each character's growth and mindset change throughout the story. I went from liking and sympathizing with Claudette to her being my least favorite character. I liked her at first because I thought she was relatable, but her personality took a turn for the worst when she would start throwing Mirabella and Claudette under the bus. Even in the end of the story, when Mirabella defended and helped Claudette, Claudette wouldn't come to her defense when she needed help. However, Mirabella and Jeanette grew to be my favorite characters. Mirabella especially, her strength, affection, and care toward her sisters is admirable. Although I wish I had more insight in what happened to them after the graduation, what I did see of them was nice. The debate was a nice way to end of the unit. I regretted picking Jeanette though because Mirabella to me is the best wolf girl, despite what I debated. But it was good to pu...

 Reflecting on childhood experiences, it's easy to understand why students assimilate. In elementary school I was fearful of bringing my own cultural foods to school because I'd see my classmates laugh when other people did it. They'd cringe at the smell, or call it nasty, all just for seeing foods that were unfamiliar to them. So, hiding that part of yourself seemed like the best way to not get picked on growing up. Even today, students are still feeling pressured to assimilate for safety reasons, or even to avoid getting bullied by their peers. But what is assimilation anyway? Assimilation is when a minority integrates socially, culturally, and/or politically into a larger, dominant culture and society. I think students shouldn't give up their cultural identity when in a new environment. Because although it might feel like the best thing to do, it's dangerous straying from your culture. Though it's pressuring to fit in, you become more and more distanced from ...

 By ethnicity, I'm Jamaican and Jamaican culture is all I've ever known. From reggae and dancehall to the people and the community to the food. Well, the food's the best part really. So, a restaurant I'd recommend to visitors is "Golden Krust". It's a surprise to me when I found out that many non-Caribbeans have no idea what that is because it's what I grew up on. My neighborhood is predominately black and many of us are Caribbean. You can find a Jamaican restaurant at every corner. Because if there's anything people can come together on, it's food.  A couple blocks from my house lies the hidden gem "Golden Krust", basically Jamaican dishes in a nutshell.  This dining spot is so worthwhile because it captures a lot of my own cultural foods, and it never disappoints your tastebuds. The spices and flavoring are nothing but up to par. Some honorable mentions include, ackee and saltfish with fried dumplings, oxtail, plantains, curry chick...