FINAL BLOG-by Catalina Pelaez

FINAL BLOG

SUMMER IS HERE! It’s finally here. Just the word reminds me of light, friends, family, happiness… Summer, the favorite season of every student and worker, the season to relax, to think about you and what you’ve done, of new experiences, and, of course, new beginnings. The season where you really notice there’s oxygen in the air, and you really BREATHE (in capital letters).  

The course is ending, and holidays are just around the corner. During this school year, the students of ESO and Bachillerato have been asked to post each month an article in this blog, as an activity in order to improve our English. I think this is a really good idea and it helped me a lot; besides practicing our English, we have had a lot of fun writing the posts and reading the other students’ ones.

As a farewell, I wanted to write about an interesting news story that I read on the newspaper to wish you all to enjoy your summer! So, here it is:

An Italian teacher of Don Bosco High School in Fermo, which is a small town on the Adriatic Sea in northeasten Italy, called Cesare Catà, gave their students, instead of a lists of assignments to do, some advices encouraging them to enjoy life, read and dream about their future. Basing his teaching methods on Mr. Keating’s ones (Robin Williams’ character in the film ‘Dead poets society’), he alleged that that was ‘the best form of rebellion you have’. These are his suggestions for the summer: 

1. Take a walk along the seashore completely alone in the morning. Look the way sunlight is reflected on the water, think about the things you like the most in life, be happy.

2. Use some of the vocabulary we learned this year at class. Remember that the more things you’ll manage to say, the more you think. Likewise, the more you think, the freer you’ll feel.

3. Read as much as you can, but not only because you have to. Read because summer inspires you to dream, and it’s when you’re reading when you’ll feel like swallows in flight. Read because it’s the best way for rebellion you have (if you need advice, come see me)

4. Avoid the things and the people who make you feel empty, sad. Seek stimulating situations with friends who understand, enrich and appreciate you not only for how you look or what you have, but because for who you are as human.

5. If you feel sad, don’t worry! Summer, like everything in life, can throw your soul into confusion and sadness. Write daily a diary talking about how you feel (in September, if you like, we can read them together).

6. Dance, shamelessly. Forget about judgements; dance on a dance floor near your house, alone in your room. Summer is, indeed, dance, and it’s foolish not to take apart.

7. Watch, at least one, the sunrise. Just stay in silence, close your eyes, breathe, and be thankful.

8. Do sport!

9. If you like someone you meet, tell him or her as sincerely as you can. It doesn’t matter if the other one doesn’t understand or doesn’t love you back. If things happen this way, he/she wasn’t mean to be. Otherwise; summer 2015 will be a wonderful and golden time together (if it doesn’t work, go back to point 8).

10. Review your notes from our class, comparing the things we learned to the things that happen to you.

11. Be as happy as the sunlight, as untamable as sea.

12. Don’t swear, and always be a well-mannered and kind one.

13. Watch films with heartbreaking and breathtaking dialogues (is English if it’s possible) in order to improve your language skills and ability to dream. Don’t let the movie end: live it again in this summer experiences.

14. In sparkling sunlight or hot summer nights, dream about how you want your life to be. Do everything you want to, don’t give up, and pursue your dream.

15. Be a good person. 

See you next year and don’t forget to be happy and enjoy your summer! (follow Catà’s advices).