Humanities, taught by Mrs. Small, is a class that explores the big question: "What does it mean to be human?" Throughout the year, we learn a mix of topics from both history and English, helping us understand different perspectives on society, identity, and human nature. We started off by reading Walden by Henry David Thoreau, then moved on to discussions about education, satire, race, and identity. We also explore ideas from different thinkers, such as naturalists and historians, to better understand how people have shaped and viewed society. This class is very interactive, with many exciting activities and opportunities to collaborate with other students.
During our unit on education, we got the opportunity to create a prompt of our choosing in correspondence to the education system to discuss and write an argument about. For this assignment, I wrote an essay on whether AP classes are really the best way to challenge advanced students. I was interested in exploring this topic because many people think that taking AP classes is the best way to get into a good college, but I wondered if these classes actually help students learn in a meaningful way. In my essay, I looked at both the benefits and drawbacks of AP classes, focused on how the system is designed, and if the system helps students develop important skills. By researching different perspectives and analyzing the purpose of AP courses, I was able to form my own opinion on whether they are the best option for advanced learners.
During our satire unit, we got a fun opportunity to write an original satire piece with a partner. I partnered with Sophie He, and we created a script for a play criticizing the absurdity of luxury restaurants overcharging customers for tiny portions of food. We focused on how consumer culture and social trends have made it acceptable for people to spend huge sums of money for a meal that leaves them still hungry. Our satire, titled Le Petit Luxe, highlights the elitism and absurd price markups found in these fancy dining establishments. Through the perspective of two characters—Karen, a wealthy socialite, and Linda, her less wealthy friend—we created a parody of the excessive nature of high-end restaurants by exaggerating the prices, food portions, and dining experiences. The satire uses irony, hyperbole, and sarcasm to make fun of these dining trends, showing how people are willing to pay for an experience rather than actual food.