Coeducational Boarding School: Student Analysis

267 Days

The Taft School is a coeducational boarding school that strives to not only educate, but also embody the student’s whole person. During your four years at Taft, the words “hate”, “hungry”, “tired”, and “exhausted” will be repeatedly heard, and said, on pretty much a daily basis. But during those low points, you will also come to acknowledge moments of understanding, learning, success and laughter. My sophomore year has not been an exception and I have grown as I confront situations that provoke me to think critically. Likewise, in Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus too has to take action and strategize a plan to return to Ithaca after ten years at war; while, at the same time, not having all of the Gods’ in favor of his nostos. But sooner
Early on this year, I recognized that Algebra II and Trigonometry would be an uphill battle. I was not understanding material and this proved to be hurting my performance in the classroom. My teacher’s style of teaching seemed to not fit well with my form of learning, and I have never been a student that needed additional help. I allowed these problems to linger all throughout first semester, and that caused me to fall short of honor role. It was a bitter pill to swallow considering I had set that goal with much ambition in September.
My defect to be unwilling to ask for help lead me to lose sight of my purpose for living two hours away from home, for nine months: the importance of my education. Nevertheless, now during the final week before exams, I have found closure and evidence of growth ensuing this occasion: I have adjusted to not always being able to find clarity in school. Learning to ask for help is a conspicuous skill that does not show weakness, but instead demonstrates strength.
Without having the well-known reputation in the league, we all would have been less willing to go the extra mile and do their part everyday. As the spring season at Taft brings a lot of fun and stressful things on the community, softball was one that had positive impacts on me. It helped me to achieve a better understanding on effort, and how you should repeatedly strive to exceed what people think is your best.
ID Please
‘I’m right here, here in the flesh - myself - and home at last, after bearing twenty years of brutal hardship… Come, I’ll show you something - living proof - know me for certain, put your minds at rest. This scar, look, where a boar’s white tusk gored me, years ago…’ With that, pushing back his rags, he revealed the great scar… (431)

Granting that being capable of stringing the bow was proof enough for the suitors, Odysseus still found it necessary to highlight his achievements by displaying his scar to validate his identity. “The great scar” has repeatedly been a symbol, from start to finish, for Odysseus’ ability to have conquered and won, through which defines his identity of being a war hero and strategic fighter. Odysseus’ idea that a scar could prove “[him] for certain” reflects on the belief that your successful misfortune defines your reputation. The need to communicate the level of difficulty he experienced, indicates how Greek