Author: Ella

PW #7 – How I Would Define My Personal Growth

Me being an only child, I’ve grown up having all of my parents’ attention and not really having to share with anyone. 

Somewhat due to that, I’ve developed a habit of talking about myself a lot in conversations. I didn’t realize how much I’d do it until last year, someone called me out while talking in a group. It actually did make me think if I did talk about myself a lot. Since then, I’ve tried to be more thoughtful of how I talk to others, making sure I’m not just talking about myself but also giving them the time to talk about themselves and their opinions. 

Along with that, I’ve also been trying to learn how to be more patient. I’m kind of a ‘When I want something done I want it done now’ person, but most of the time I just need to chill and wait for things to be done. It’s definitely been a process, but I’m learning how to listen more, and be more patient with myself and others.

IRJE #7 – Call Me by Your Name

Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman is a story set during the summer of 1983 in the countryside of Northern Italy. It follows Elio, who is a 17 year old boy who likes reading, playing music, and deconstructing music. When his father, invites a 24 year old student named Oliver to stay with their family, Elio is at first intimidated by him, but as they spend more time together their relationship turns into a deep and passionate love for eachother. The book and movie both show the highs and lows of falling in love for the first time. The excitement, the butterflies in your stomach, and the heartbreak that comes with knowing that things are temporary.

“I remember everything. I remember you and me, I remember the way we kissed, the way you touched me, the way I touched you, the way your body felt against mine. I remember the way you would say my name. I remember your voice, your laugh, the way you looked at me when you were near. I remember the heat, the sun, the sound of the water. I remember your hands on me, the way you touched me like no one else ever had.”

This quotation shows the deep connection between Elio and Oliver. How their experiences with eachother hold importance, and how they shape their emotions. This book truly captures all the emotions possible when going through your first love. After watching the movie many times, and now finally reading the book, I’ve developed an attachement to this entire plot.

PW #6 – What I Want My Life to Be 10 Years From Now

In 10 years from now, I’ll be 24 years old.

By that time I hope I would’ve finished my undergrad degree for medical school, and would now be in medical school fully. I imagine myself waking up everyday, and feeling excited for what’s ahead about something I’m extremely passionate about.

I hope by this time that I will be living, and studying in California, and that I will still have my friends that I love and that feel like family to me!

By 24, I hope I have made a life for myself that feels like a good balance of hard work and happiness. I’d be confident in myself, and proud of how far I’ve come. As much as 10 years is a lot of time from now, I know that the journey will take hard work and dedication. But, I believe that it’ll be worth it to make a life that’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of.

My Personal Response to “A Christmas Carol”

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was an enjoyable, sweet but short story. The story shows how easy it is to let greed consume us, like what happened to Scrooge. The story shows how Scrooge’s actions didn’t only hurt others but also left him lonely and sad.

The visits from Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come were important because they made Scrooge see his actions. It made me think about how important it is to reflect on my actions, and realize the impact they might have on other people.

Reading this book made me feel different emotions. In the beginning, I really didn’t like Scrooge’s attitude, but as the story went on, I liked his transformation. It teaches a lesson and shows that even the most unkind people can change if they’re willing to open their eyes and admit their wrongs.

One thing I found interesting about this story was that it focused on kindness and changes within people. It shows how living with love can bring overall happiness. The story left me thinking about how small acts of kindness can change peoples lives.

What I also liked about A Christmas Carol was how Dickens used a horror element in an interesting way to tell this story. The ghosts weren’t just there to scare Scrooge, but they all had a purpose and represented something different. The Ghost of Christmas Past reminded him of the innocence and happiness he used to have, while the Ghost of Christmas Present showed him the struggles of people who were still finding joy even in circumstances they had. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come was the most powerful because it forced Scrooge to face the reality of what his future could look like if he didn’t change.

Overall, the story reminded me of the importance of having compassion and empathy for others, and making the most of the time we have with each other.

IRJE #6 – Bones & All

Bones & All by Camille DeAngelis is a story about Maren Yearly, who is a teenager with an uncontrollable urge to eat people she loves. Maren tries to figure out her past and herself, while the novel talks about loneliness, emotional depth, and identity.

Maren’s relationship with her mother is talked about in the book, as it shows the pain of her being abandoned, and the trouble of her being different. Maren finds it hard when she wants to connect with others but fearing the harm she might do to them.

During the story, Maren forms a relationship with another cannibal named Lee. Their bond grows through the story, even though their relationship is built ontheir need to eat each other.

“I want you to eat me, bones and all,” she said, her voice trembling, and I felt it like a shudder in my chest. She didn’t want to be alone anymore, didn’t want to carry the weight of it all by herself. It wasn’t just about hunger. It was about the connection, the need to feel something other than the gnawing emptiness inside us. And in that moment, I wasn’t sure if I was the one who needed to eat her, or if she needed to consume me.”

This quotation shows the complicated but deep connection between Maren and Lee, leading into their mutual dark desires and deep emotional need for each other. It’s about wanting to be consumed, both physically and emotionally, as a way to find meaning in a relationship.

My Personal Response to “The Strage Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”

After reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I thought it was such an interesting story. It made me think about who we really are as humans, having two sides to our personalities, and how we act around different kinds of people depending on who they are. The difference between Jekyll’s kind, respectable self, and Hyde’s evil showed how much control we really have over our personalities, and how quick it is to change our personalities. It was scary to see how fast Jekyll lost control once he gave Hyde power. 

While reading the book, I found myself thinking about whether people who commit evil acts can truly change or be transformed into better versions of themselves. I believe that while everyone’s way to growth is different, if someone learns from their mistakes and makes an effort to do better going forward, they deserve a second chance. While Hyde’s acts of murder can’t be justified because of his sense of evil, but in a more realistic scenario, I think people are capable of change and growth into a better person overall. 

Stevenson heavily uses supernatural elements in the story to keep the readers engaged and interested in the story. When I was reading, the vocabulary in the story left me speechless at some points, and after reading The Carew Murder Case chapter, it showed me how well Stevenson used adjectives, and objects to capture the moment in time, get a picture in their head of what they think could possibly be happening, and make readers reflect on what happened during that moment. 

Overall, the book also made me think about how society pushes people to hide parts of themselves that they don’t want people to see. While it also kept me hooked on the book, and left me thinking about human behaviour, and if we do actually hide our personality depending on who we’re with sometimes.

PW #5 – My Favorite Runway Show

One of the most recent runway shows I watched was the VETEMENTS Spring/Summer 2025 collection. The whole show was a mix of streetwear and high fashion, with models like Stella Maxwell, Barbara Palvin, and Anok Yai, each bringing their own energy and style to the runway. Stella Maxwell walked in a deconstructed lace dress, which showed VETEMENTS’ ability to combine streetwear with high-fashion. The collection featured oversized pieces, unexpected fabric combinations, which created contrast between luxury and streetwear.

The show was not just about the clothes, but about the attitude the models had and their self-expression. It was so fun to watch, and it showcased how fashion can be both bold and elegant, making a statement.

IRJE #5 – Beloved

Beloved by Toni Morrison is about a woman whose name is Sethe. She escaped slavery and lives in Cincinnati with her daughter, Denver, in a house that is haunted by the ghost of her dead baby. Sethe’s past is full of pain, and the ghost reminds her of the terrible things she went through. 

One day, a man named Paul D, who is someone Sethe knew from the Sweet Home plantation shows up. His presence makes her feel less lonely, but also brings back memories of when she was a slave.

Counting on the stillness of her own soul, she had forgotten the other one: the soul of her baby girl. Who would have thought that a little old baby could harbor so much rage? Rutting among the stones under the eyes of the engraver’s son was not enough.

Through flashbacks, the book explains the horrible things that happened to Sethe during slavery and how she escaped. It talks a lot about things like motherhood, trauma, and how hard it is to move on from the past. The story shows how love can be powerful but also painful, especially when tied to such a terrible history.

IRJE #4 – Dead Poets Society

Dead Poets Society is a novel written by Nancy H. Kleinbaum, that is based on the 1989 film. It focuses on identity and the struggle for self-expression. The story is set in an elite boys’ prep school and shows the life of John Keating, who is a teacher that always encourages his students to “seize the day” and embrace their own passions.

“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”   

Through his unusual teaching methods, the boys begin to question the  structures of their lives, and the pressure from their families and school. The novel shows the emotional and mental journeys of the students. Specifically Neil, who desires for freedom and self-expression while his dad believes in strict parenting. Dead Poets Society shows the consequences of going against social expectations but also represents how education can show the importance of being true to yourself.

IRJE #3 – Picking Daisies on Sundays

Picking Daisies on Sundays by Liana Cincotti is a friends-to-lovers romance novel. The story starts with Daniella, known as ‘Daisy’ who is a hopeless romantic finding herself near the end of college. She enters into a fake relationship with her childhood best friend, and first love named Levi. They initially enter the fake relationship for convenience, but slowly realize they have deeper feelings for eachother.

Being with you is like coming home after a long journey. I’d forgotten the feeling of comfort and certainty you bring. It’s as if every Sunday, we were just picking up where we left off, each petal a memory, each laugh a promise of something more.

This statement represents the comfort between the characters, and how they trust and rely on eachother. “Coming home” represents that they find safety, and belonging when they’re with eachother. Throughout the book they switch perspectives, giving a viewpoint on each characters emotions and thought process.

Overall, the story reminded me that sometimes love can feel like a journey, where past feelings and new experiences collide. It made me think about second chances, and how important it is to be honest to have a true connection with another person.

PW #4 – When I went to The Scarlet Tour

In November of 2023, I went to Doja Cat’s Scarlet tour.

A month before the tour started I told my parents I really wanted to go, but it wasn’t a big priority for me because I had school. One Wednesday morning my dad casually told me he bought tickets for me, him, and my mom 2 days prior to the concert and I was so happy!

We flew to Vegas on Thursday night, and got there at 11pm. The next day was the concert, we mainly spent the day shopping and walking on The Strip before it was time for the concert. We took an Uber back to our hotel, got dressed, and walked to the T-Mobile Arena which was across from our hotel. By the time we got there the merch booth had just opened so we bought merch we wanted. We lined up to get our seats, and we waited until it started.

The concert was so fun, the energy was so hype, everybody was jumping and knew the lyrics to the songs. I was screaming every song and by the time the concert was over my voice was gone. To this day I am so grateful to have gone because it was definitely one of the best experiences of my life.

My Personal Response to “Our Town”

I really enjoyed reading and watching Our Town, the story was kind of hard to follow at first, but the more I started to read the book the easier it got. Watching the play and seeing the characters use their imagination while using props was interesting, and showed that anybody can write and direct a play without spending lots of money on props for different scenes. The Stage Manager would come in from scene to scene, preventing me from deepening my thoughts about the characters and their lives.

Wilder made Grover’s Corners feel like it’s our town by giving us an clear view into the lives of the Gibbs and Webb family. The story and play both showed how people grow, fall in love, and eventually die by saying that Wally died from an appendix burst at camp, and showing us how George and Emily grew to falling inlove with eachother, and having Emily die due to childbirth.

Many things change in the book such as, George, Emily, and even Grover’s Corner, by the end of the book the Stage Manager tells us about how people lock their doors now, considering a breach of safety and trust in the citizens of Grover’s Corner.

By the end of the story and play, Emily realized that she took life for granted, and squandered life when she had it. After watching, it even had me thinking about life and why we should make the best of every day that we are here on earth, because we never know when it’s going to be our last.

IRJE #2 – It Ends With Us

It Ends With Us, is a novel by Colleen Hoover that is set on Lily Bloom’s life as a flower shop owner in Boston who had left to the town of Maine for a new beginning. To start off the book, Lily meets a neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid with whom she begins dating later into the story. As their relationship deepens however, Lily begins to face some challenges which take her back to her younger days and her first love Atlas Corrigan.

“It stops here. With me and you. It ends with us. This is a quote that gets tossed around a lot, but it’s one of those things that gives me a sense of strength. Like maybe if we keep saying it, we’ll believe it. That we are capable of breaking the cycle.”

This moment in the book shows Lily’s determination to change the cycle of decisions from her past, giving herself a better and happier future. Mainly, The story explores the ups and downs of love, the choices we make, and how our past experiences shape who we are.

PW #3 – Why Challengers is my Favourite Movie

After watching Challengers six times since it came out, it has become my favorite movie, and here’s why. The film moves between two time periods, giving an understanding of the characters and their relationships. 

At the center of the story is Tashi, played by Zendaya, a talented tennis player getting through the competitive world of tennis. She finds herself caught in a love triangle with her current husband, Art, and Patrick, a rival player who was once Art’s doubles partner. As the story unfolds, we see how Tashi’s drive to play tennis clashes with her emotions. The movie explains the complexities of love, rivalry, and ambition in a way that feels incredibly real.

Overall, Challengers not only shows the thrill of tennis but also dives into personal relationships and the choices we make. 

PW #2 – When I met a celebrity in New York City

In late August, I was in New York City with my parents. It was a normal day for me, I had been out in SoHo for almost the entire day, and we had just left our hotel to head to a resturant in Eataly.

As we were walking, a blonde lady hurried past us in the opposite direction. As soon as she passed, my mom stopped, turned around, and unsure of who it was, asked me “Isn’t that Jenny Humphrey from Gossip Girl?”

As soon as we realised it was her, we turned around to see her quickly walking into a store. By the time we caught up to where she had entered two other people had also noticed her. When she came out, I asked for a photo and we had a short but sweet conversation before more people recognized her.

PW #1 – The Guy with a Gun at the Tesla Charging Station in LA

In July of 2024, I was in Los Angeles with my parents. We had just come back from Universal Studios, and decided to charge our car. We pulled over to a supercharging station on Sunset Blvd, which is one of the busiest Tesla Charging Stations in LA. We arrived to a a green cybertruck already charging and line of 5 cars waiting to charge, so we decided to wait. After about 5 minutes, we heard yelling outside, a woman had decided to charge her car in a wheelchair spot without having a permit to be parked there. This guy got out of his car and started yelling really rude things at the woman, obviously if a middle aged man is yelling at a 20 year-old, people want to know what’s the problem. 3 other people which were in line and the 2 people who were in the cybertruck all got out of their cars started to yell at the man, which turned into an argument.

Now I was lowkey scared while sitting in my car because, not to sterotype but it’s America and it’s legal to have a gun in your trunk, so I was telling my parents that we should go, but they insisted we stay. After heated banter between the guys, and the woman who was parked in the wrong place had left, one of the guys started to throw hands. I can’t even remember this in full detail but the next thing I remember is someone else in the corner of the charging lot, trying to punch air. After a few people left to go somewhere, and us finally getting a charging spot, I see the man looking in his trunk and putting a gun in his pocket. Inititally I didn’t even know it was a gun until after the police came and other people who were parked closer to him told the police that he had a gun. Shortly after, the police came and my dad gave a brief description of the man and showed a video of him, and the argument that happened. We never found out if the man ever used the gun, and by the time we left the green cybertruck was still charging with nobody inside.

IRJE #1 – Maybe in Another Life

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a novel based on a woman who returns to her hometown, Los Angeles after many years. One night, she faces a decision wether to go home with her ex-boyfriend, rekindling their past romance, or to stay out with friends. Which would lead to new experiences and relationships, this moment created two parallel storylines, that alternate throughout the novel.

I can’t help but think about all the choices we make. How they lead us to where we are, and how we can’t see how it all plays out. What if I had made a different choice? What if I had taken a different path?

When I read that passage, it made me think about how our choices really shape our daily lives and how important it is for everyone to find a balance in what they do.

My Personal Response to “Master and Man”

After finishing Master And Man, I didn’t really like it. I found it challenging to understand the context of the story, especially since some of the language used was in Old English, which made it harder to connect with the characters and their intentions.

However, there were a few elements of the story that I liked. All of the characters added a unique personality to the novella, while their interactions kept me interested in the story.

Overall, while the novella didn’t click with me, the character dynamics showed a glimpse into the human relationships between characters that I found exciting to read.

An introduction to Ella!

Hey, I’m Ella! I’m 13, and I was born in Victoria, BC.

I’m currently in my first year at Brookes Westshore. Some of my interests are fashion, staying active, and travelling. I love cheerleading, playing tennis, and dancing which I’ve been doing since I was 4 years old.

One of my favourite places in the whole world has to be California, I love the beaches, the houses, and the whole vibe. When I’m older, I hope to be working in the medical field, but I plan to study more than just medicine when I go to university.

Hopefully you learnt something new about me!