Finding Happiness in Short Stories

Unit Reflection

 

 

1. How does what you learned during this unit connect to the real world?

 

We watched a documentary called “Happy”, and it talked about how some of the poorest people in the world, are the happiest. They said that part of the reason is because these people have everything they need to survive and that’s enough to make them happy. Learning that money doesn’t buy happiness made me think about how no matter how much stuff you buy, you won’t become any happier. So we should be happy and grateful for what we do have.

 

1. How did you develop or grow as a student through this unit? (What skills did you use/improve? What new things did you learn? Has your perspective changed at all?)

 

Over the course of this unit, I grew in terms of my “happiness,” because almost every English class, we typed in our gratitude journals which helped me process all the nice things people have done for me. I learned that some people in the world actually are happy with what they have even if they are the poorest. My perspective has definitely changed now that I know generosity goes a long way. I have grown in my making of short stories because I learned how to properly edit and write a short story.

 

 

 

1. As you look through the work you have completed throughout this unit, what are your strengths?

 

I think my strength is happiness. I love to always try to be happy, because I know that when I’m not, my feelings could impact the people around me. This unit has helped me improve the skill of happiness so I can be the happiest as I can. Also, writing the short story was an enjoyable experience and I feel as though story writing is a strength of mine as well.

 

1. As you look through the work you have completed throughout this unit, what could you improve?

 

I could improve my knowledge of conflicts (in short stories). I know that a number of different types of conflicts exist, but I need to improve my understanding of each type of conflict. I feel that I’m really only familiar with the human against human conflicts.

 

I could also improve how I can make others happy with my words and actions.

 

1. Choose a piece of work from this unit that you are proud of / would like to showcase. Copy and paste it below (or provide a link). Why did you choose this piece?

 

I am proud of my short story because I worked really hard on it and had a really fun time creating it. I want to showcase it because I want to show that best friends are friends forever and bring happiness into our lives. This story is about two girls who are best friends in the same class. So far, life is good and Jacklin’s very happy. Jacklin’s friend, Marcie, is diagnosed with breast cancer. She loses all of her hair because of the chemotherapy. She is bullied because of her hair loss and late homework because she is at the hospital. Marcie later dies, and Jacklin realizes how much happiness Marcie contributed to her life. See my short story here ------------------>