Of Literary Merit

As a freshman, I wondered who picked these books we read.  As a sophomore, I was curious why we had to analyze books with such depth.  As a junior, I questioned why we had to learn about so many literary devices.  Now, as a senior, I have learned that the literary devices create depth in a book that impact the reader and add to the book's literary merit, making it a good book to study in school.  After four years in high school, I'm beginning to grasp how the analysis of a book shows what exactly the author did to create the work of literary merit and write something with more depth than a book for pure entertainment.  Also, this research project where we need to pick a novel and decide ourselves if it's of literary merit or not, will help me better understand how a novel becomes of literary merit.  It shows the process all the novels read in school had to go through to be considered good to read and taught in school.  When a work of literary merit is fully understood, it leaves a larger and longer lasting impact on the reader and gives the reader something to think about society or leaves a moral about mankind.
Zach Y.

My Spring Break in Mexico

As I stepped out of the airplane, the cool breeze of Mexico crept up and as we drove to the city, Zapotlanejo, I could already smell the cows 5 miles away. The new scent in the air did not bother me because it was a reminder that I was back to my second home. When we arrived to the welcoming city of Zapotlanejo, our first stop was not my aunts house, but instead it was straight to some enchiladas, tamales, and posole. While we finished devouring the delious food, I new that this was only the begining because there were lots of foods that I was waiting to consume.  During the week I went to a small town where everyone knows not only their neighbor but the family ten blocks away. While I was there, I visited my grandfather where I helped him milk a cow. I have to say that was a bit scary but worth all the fright. While I was there,  I could see the river that connected the industrialized city of Guadalajara to the unindustrialized village of Atengo.  I was able to experience the two different lifestyles while I was there, which made me more aware of the different lives that people live within a small radius. During the week, I had a great time with my family and as the last day in Mexico arrived, I was sad that I had to leave,  but I knew that I had enjoyed my break.

Cynthia Navarro