Okay guys, let's face it: as AP English students, we annoy all of our non-AP friends on a daily basis. We don't understand how much English has taken over our lives until we realize that, during data sheet season (starting two weeks before one is due and ending at about 3 in the morning the day of,) we bring up data sheets in almost literally every conversation we have. We are ridiculous. We talk about English class before class, during class, after class, online, in commons, and probably in our sleep. Even in casual social settings, conversation will always drift to AP English, making everyone else feel uncomfortable, and slightly fearful.
I mean, who wants to mess with an AP English student? We stay up until daybreak writing twenty page papers and survive on about three hours of sleep. We analyze every bit of text we come across. We throw out literary terms in normal conversation. We memorize Shakespeare quotes. And on top of all of this, most of us take several other grueling AP classes. And God forbid something should interrupt an in-class essay...
We are terrifying, terrifying creatures.
We are AP English zombies.
This is actually quite true. I know exactly who you are talking about because I myself get a similar reaction when the data sheet somehow slips into conversation. I find myself constantly thinking about it. When I drove home from gymnastics today, I was getting angry at the cars in front of me for going so slow because I had to get home to work on my data sheet. I frequently end up in conversations where the participants describe how much they have done, what they have left to do, and their least favorite parts. Now that I realize that, this is very depressing, especially since there are many other interesting topics, such as the new Harry Potter movie which comes out very soon. The drawing is a nice touch, by the way.
ReplyDeleteI have to completely agree with this post! I too find myself talking about, well lets face it freaking out about, AP English on a daily basis. This class truly has taken over my life. It has gotten to the point where whenever I read a book I automatically reach for a pen and try to annotate, until I stop and think about the fact that I am about to completely out-nerd myself. The thing is, I completely forget about how focused I am on AP English because in school I am constantly surrounded by AP English students. I would also like to note that I love the added illustration, it definitely adds a little something to your blog.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I completely agree with you! I too often complain to my non-AP friends, and they mimic and mock me saying: "guys, this data sheet is soooooo hard!!!" The truth is, however, they don't understand the amount of work we put into this class. I too have found myself unable to read anything without wanting to annotate, and even in daily conversations I feel like I am always analyzing what people say. AP English has truly become one of the driving forces of our lives. Also, you should definitely bring that picture to class and put it up on our senior bulletin board! It's very clever!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I LOVE the picture! It's so creative! I agree with Cat, that picture definitely needs to be posted on the bulletin board in class. Anyways, I couldn't agree more with your statements. Today at basketball I mentioned the need to get home to finish my data sheet, only to receive a "I don't want to hear about the data sheet! That's all I hear AP English kids talking about in the halls and in class" response. I also can not believe how many hours of my day I spend somehow involved in AP English. Often times at lunch, online, at basketball, or even in another class, the subject of AP English 12 arises. I have found myself unable to read anything, (especially the books for non english related classes like government) without wanting to annotate the text. Strangely enough, I even find myself replaying in my head what people have boldly stated in class only to wonder how that indirectly characterizes them as people. I know it's odd that we all have these unusual "talents" and habits of analyzing everything in sight, but at the same time I find it somewhat cool as it delineates the AP English 12 students from the rest of the student body.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I completely agree with your post. The other day in Philosophy, we recieved packets to read and comment on. While everyone else sat quietly waiting to continue our discussion, I found myself still marking up every detail of the text. AP English seems to follow us everywhere!I even find myself correcting my boss's grammar when he continues to use passive voice. When he asks why it matters, I simply respond, "its AP English". Everyone deprived of the experience of AP English just does not understand our way of thinking and our high expectations for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteSarah I love the picture, It is the perfect combination of everything that makes us AP English students. As for AP English rapidly taking over our lives... I could not agree more, I can not tell you how often I get blank stares when I talk to my friends about english, and my new habit of correcting my entire family's grammar. But I think the most interesting idea is that I spend the majority of my time talking with other students about AP English, it is the worst thing on earth if I do not know what we are doing in AP English that day. As for finishing our Data Sheets at three in the morning the day they are due. I would say you are wrong, that Harry Potter movie has a fair potion of the class finishing early.
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