Gattaca - Summary and Opinion

In GT1 we had just finished watching the movie GATTACA.  This movie was about how the world would be different when it was just based off your genetic code.  Your genetic code tells you whether you will succeed or fail, when you die, your special skills, everything about you.  During the movie, a guy named Vincent Freeman, tries to pursue his dream of one day riding on a spaceship and going out on space.  However, the only thing that stops him is his genetic code, which says that he cannot do anything that impressive and will die at a young age.  His father was never proud to have him as a son, but he loved Vincent's brother, Antoine.  Antoine, was destined for greatness, he would be the perfect son.  But, one day the two brother's had a race to see who can swim the farthest, and Vincent always won.  This lead to the realization of Vincent, that maybe "genetic code" is not how society should base our abilities on. 
Vincent soon finds the perfect specimen who will allow him to basically, take his life.  That person was, Jerome Morrow, who has a very high IQ, but got into a car accident which made him reside in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.  Vincent takes the place of Jerome, as a top position in Gattaca, a very prestige spaceport.  But, just as he arrives a murder case happens, and the main suspect is Vincent Freeman.  Now, Vincent has no choice, but to be Jerome, and he succeeds in this by exchanging: urine, blood, hair, and any other genetically coded part of Jerome.  While working at Gattaca, Vincent "Jerome", falls in love with a co-worker, Irene, who just like Vincent was told she could not accomplish her dreams, because her genetic code says she can't. By the end, Vincent succeeds and goes up into space, leaving his life and the life of Jerome Morrow behind him.  But, in a way he's just beginning a new life in the great beyond.

In my opinion, I wouldn't watch this movie for my own enjoyment.  However, it was pretty interesting seeing how much life would change, if the world was based on our genetic codes.  Also, I think it put the scenario, of the genetically coded world, in a bit of a too extreme way.  Some parts may have been a bit gruesome.  But, in the end I liked the way it all came together, and i really enjoyed watching the love story of Irene and Vincent.

Choices and Values: Value Characteristics

I just completed the survey and am quite content with the results. The survey said that I value:

• Health, Personal safety, Security
• Religion, Spirituality
• Family, Love, Emotional Security
• Financial security, Money, Status

I believe that these characteristics are quite accurate to myself.  For the first characteristic "Health, Personal safety, Security," I can proudly say that I care for the health of not just myself, but also my family and friends.  Also, I want to be safe.  For example, my family always makes sures all of the doors in our house are locked, and before I sleep, I lock my door.  My second characteristic was, Religion and Spirituality, and that really reflects me, because my family is ALL about our religion.  We would pray together every night, and go to church every Sunday.  I have already gotten all the sacraments I should have now, and I am glad to have done it.  I want to allow my children to grow up with their religion also.  My third characteristic was, Family, Love, Emotional Security.  I believe that this is accurate because, the most important thing to me is my family.  Also, I love them and all the people that I hold most dear.  For emotional security, I don't really like showing people if I get hurt or am mad.  I'm usually quite about it.  Also, I only trust a select few people.  The final characteristic I was given was, Financial security, Money, and Status.  I guess this is like me because, when I grow up I would like a good job that would provide for me and my family. 

In conclusion, I believe that the quiz was quite accurate.  I think about the health of my family and I.  Also, my religion is important.  I love my family and friends, and would trust them with my life.  Also, in the future I hope to have a well-paying job that will provide my family and I.

The Trouble with Geniuses Part 1 and 2

In my Gifted and Talented class we have been reading the book, Outliers, and right now we are on the Chapter "The Trouble with Geniuses Part 1 and Part 2.  An Outliers, is person who is different than what is usually expected. In summary, it says how many even though a person may be a genius, there is one very big aspect of what makes them more successful than another Genius.  That one aspect would be, their background (where they live, culture, parents, family, etc.).  Even though you may have been born smart;with a large I.Q, and special skills, if you did not have a good basic foundation as a child, you wouldn't be as successful as another person with a large I.Q and skills.


In Chapters 3 and 4 of Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell tells us about the smartest man in the world, Chris Langan, with an I.Q of 195 (larger than Albert Einstein- 190).  Though this man has the highest I.Q ever recorded he, had a rough childhood, got kicked out of college (his mother didn't sign the papers), and worked as bar bouncer some time in his life.  Langan may have had book smarts, but with street smarts he was very lost.  


Malcolm Gladwell also says in Chapters 3 and 4, he states how someone who has had a better and richer lifestyle would probably be more successful, than a person who was born in the streets, and mostly had to fend for him/herself.


So, the question I must ask myself is, "Is Chris Langan successful?"  In my opinion, I DO believe that Chris Langan is successful.  I believe this because, even though he may not be rich and living in a mansion, he has a loving wife, a home, animals to take care of, and he is content.  Compared to where he could be right now, maybe still being a bar bouncer, or on the streets.  Chris Langan had turned his life from poor boy with a bad background, into a normal guy....... with a VERY high I.Q.  However, I do believe that Chris Langan could have done soooo much more with his life.  He could have gone back to college, or tried to extend his knowledge to others, instead of just hiding his brain in his own house, and reading books, and trying to find a theory of the universe.
Also, in these two chapters, they tell us about practical intelligence.  Practical intelligence is, the ability to know right from wrong. Also, how to survive in the real world.  In these chapters they also mention 'concerted cultivation,'  which is how a parent, or parents, raise the child.  The way that they raise their child will affect how he/she will be like in the future.  In other words, they "cultivated" the child, so that they will be better in the future.  Usually, more richer families get more "cultivation" than poorer families.


What I learned and will take away from these two chapters are: to always strive for greatness, and that I am very lucky to have been given such a wonderful life, because if I didn't I'd probably not be in a nice house, with family, or school, or friends; my life may have been turned upside down.  So, I'm much more grateful for the gifts I have been given.

Kindergarten Debate Response. . . .

After reading the article, "Delay Kindergarten at Your Child’s Peril," is that I agree that if a child were to skip kindergarten just to be ahead in school, "redshirting," would not be of any help to a student. Academics will take you to your future.  In the article it states, "In high school, redshirted children are less motivated and perform less well. By adulthood, they are no better off in wages or educational attainment — in fact, their lifetime earnings are reduced by one year." 

However, like in Outliers, everyone is different.  Maybe one student may have trouble with future academics because of skipping a grade, while others may have the intellect, or maturity, to handle skipping a grade and adapt to this grade. 

In Conclusion, I believe that both the atricle, and Outliers, have two very good points.  In the article, skipping a grade, "reshirting", would most likely not help the student.  However, in Outliers, the definition says it all,  "..men and women who do things that are out of the ordinary."  Some students may be different from the others and will adapt to this new grade, whether they are smart, or have a gift, good at adapting, or are just very mature.

Jillyan's First EVER Blog!

Hey Everyone, It's Jillyan, and this is my very first blog here on Blogspot! (:  I am in the 9th grade, and I'm really excited to have work with a MacBook!  I love this class!  Anyway, my favorite things to do are: Singing, Acting, Playing the Piano, Ballet, Tennis, Volleyball, and hanging with my family and friends.  My favorite topics are: Twilight, Music, Fashion, and anything that seems interesting... (: My favorite subjects would be history, english, and math. My plan after high school is the following.....
After graduating I will be enjoying summer vacation.  Then, I will study at princeton for my Pre-med.  Next, I will study at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, to become a Pediatric Dentist.  While studing to become a dentist I MAY meet a doctor or fellow Dentist and get married after College.  I'll have a few kids and live in a big house in the Hamptons, New York. 
Being with my family and friends are the top things that make me happy =)