Paleta Payaso - A Final Review

 

A couple blog posts back, I was looking for some blog-post-worthy material in Barnes & Noble. I was trying my best to find some sort of exciting thriller, a scientific fiction novel, maybe even a story of change and renewal. I looked row, by shaft, by book, and all I could find were unconvincing stories. But then, I found it.

No matter how tasty queso de Oaxaca is, I currently don't have much interest of visiting the beautiful city of Oaxaca. And before I came to Barnes & Nobles that day, neither did I have the intention to write about it. And, I still won't. But what I will talk about, is what came after it. 

This year, I have been writing detailed reviews on every comment of mine on interesting blog posts. It's time for one of my own; I present, a summary, reflection, and full review of the Paleta Payaso blog. 

As of today, this blog sits at a total of a little bit under three thousand views - an amount over fifty times our class size. Not really too sure how we amassed and surpassed the impossible, but as a proud member of the Paleta Payaso team, I'm completely fine with these numbers.

At the start of the year, the Paleta Payaso team comprised of four people. By the end, we finished off with the addition of one more-and don't worry Sophia, I forgive you for not knowing what a Paleta Payaso is-. Together, with the combination of our snacks, towers (failed), and seemingly infinite amount of gadgets, we will have created a total of thirty-six blog posts by the end of this school year. Not ever would I have thought I'd do anything like this - writing on an incremented blog cycle, posting reviews about some of my favorite books and forms of literature. And to be completely honest, at the start of the year, I was a little worried about how manageable this would be. I knew I'd find a lot of new things at my first freshmen year of high school, and wasn't completely sure of all I'd have to handle and tackle. Overall, I am proud of the writing I've created here, and the consistent writing habits, concise planning, and better start-to-finish focuses these posts have been able to bring to me. And more than me, I am proud of all my group was able to create, whether that be our blogs, stories, or memories we all made along the way.

And, now that I'm concluding most of the blog post, I'd also like to disclose our for-ever present rivalry of water bottles, chairs, and tables with the table across from us in 8th period Language & Literature 2. Y'all are opps.

So what's the takeaway of this post? Is it que comen vacas en Oaxaca? Or that in the end, all your posts in every blog cycle were worth it? Maybe, it's the fact that I spelled out a secret code if you put together every starting letter of the past two paragraphs. And maybe even, I also just made you look. But really, in the end of it all, I really am proud of this team, and am thankful for the experience of these blogposts in whole. Thanks Mr. Mitchell!

And on a final end note, as we are closing the year, and as I'm finishing up this blog post, I want to make it clear we have not yet seen the last lights of the horizon concluding our freshmen year. Inasmuch as we are ready for the summer, some of us aren't even ready for the final obstacle to the bridge that crosses it. What does that mean? It's the time to lock in. As long, exciting, and scary that this year was, none of it will matter with straight F's on all your finals. You're all well aware of your capabilities (you're Uni students), and I want to remind you you've closed gaps much larger than this before. There is not one soul in this class that can tell me hasn't speed-ran (only just starting) an assignment hours before 11:59 P.M., finished their language homework or studied for the test minutes before the first bell rung, procrastinated a whole bio essay, tried to calculate their grade with one or two missed assignments, or read and forgot everything from the history readings.* And with that, you've already gotten to the last leap- not a leap of faith, but a leap of conclusion. In these closing weeks, every page, every hour, and every effort will matter towards the finish of the year. You don't stop when you're tired- and believe me, we're all tired. We stop when we're done. We've all been building towards this, now it's time to make it all worth it. Make your future self proud, do it now, and be ready for a later that doesn't include all you've been racing to close for the finish line of the year. I believe in you, and you need to believe in yourself. Put those headphones on. Lock in. 

*The content derived from interviews conducted for this post are provided solely for educational purposes. All statements and claims made by interviewees are their own and have not been independently verified. The author assumes no liability for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the information presented and disclaims all responsibility for any consequences arising from its use. 

 

                                                                                                    Jakub

                                                                                                    Paleta Payaso Team