Plot, Character, Setting and Mood

・Explain how you figured out what your avatar would look like:

I looked for descriptions of the character in the story, (Things like eye colour, face shape…) And patched them together and thought up a face that would match all of the descriptions. Another thing that helped to confirm afterwards was an actual photo the author of this book of when she was 12, when the story took place.

・How did you choose the plot points?

There were many points in the story that were significant to change the way the story changed direction, but I chose the ones that stood out to me the most, and were the most important.

・Explain how you figured out the settings in your story. Why is the setting significant to the story?

I picked up clues from the events happening in the story, and when they took place. (For example, the characters in the story talked about the Olympics in the story, and the last time the Olympics happened in the country they were in and also made sense for the other events to have happened..) The setting, (Japan in the 1980’s) is important because the story is about Waka being torn between her American and Japanese self and being confused in a place new and strange to her. The time that the story took place is significant because the way she is treated and some things that they thought to be right are exclusive to that time (and the story makes more sense when you know these things.)

・Explain what the words mood means and how/why you picked the song you picked?

I chose the song because it felt a little bit cold and melancholic, like how Waka felt when she was looking back on her memories of when she was in Japan. The song also was not too loud or disturbing, so it was the better choice for the presentation

Core Competency reflection

・I appreciate feedback on… and prefer when it comes in the form of…

I appreciate feedback on my work, and I prefer when they do not just tell me what they think is bad about it; I want them to tell me where they think I could grow or what I could change next time to make it better. I also want to be told which parts are good and should be kept, and why they think so. I do want to know how other people see my work, because if it is just me looking at my work, it is only my way of thinking, and a narrow field of vision.

・When I need to boost my mood or re-focus: 

I usually take a break and do something that makes me feel happy. Some of these things include drawing, reading and listening to music. Those things help me because when I’m doing those things and focusing only on those things, my mind is filled with that, and gets rid of the space for worries or stress. I also find listening to music when doing work (Usually fast music.) It helps me type and work faster. I usually make the music 1.25 times faster; it makes me finish my work faster and helps me be motivated. I also watch videos that make me laugh when I am tired. After laughing, I feel lighter and can start off my work again feeling better.  

・The ways I communicate at school differ from how I communicate at ____ (home and online) in these ways:  

When I am at home, I communicate with my mom and sister in Japanese, and it helps me keep up my Japanese skills. (I speak English when talking to my Father) I have to try to talk properly in Japanese to get my family to understand (without using English.) It is sometimes hard for me, but it helps me keep my Japanese speaking skills alive. When I am online and chatting with people, I try to remember that they (the person I am talking to) is not able to tell how I am feeling or wanting to convey my message by the tone of my voice, so I am careful to use emojis or Ellipses, and other punctuation for them to be able to tell my mood when talking so no unneeded misunderstandings happen. I also take note to explain things more thoroughly and check my grammar, because really bad misunderstandings and fights can start from a simple spelling mistake.