Looking for Alaska - Miles' Eulogy

My time at Mary Queen of Peace has been unforgettable. I have grown in knowledge, faith, and have grown strong relationships with friends and teachers. Through our class field trips, class bonding experiences, retreats, athletics, and recess I have learned the many virtues that need to be in place for a successful day. We as an Eighth Grade class have shared many memories that I will never forget. Each day we faced a new challenge and we would again and again overcome the obstacles. I have made friends for life here and will miss seeing them every day.

Growing up in Chicago, I attended a neighborhood school from preschool through first grade. Although it was an exceptional school for elementary kids, the education for middle school and high school students was not as adequate. Seeking a better place to raise their children, my parents were faced with a tough choice. When I was in 2nd grade, our family made the decision to move to the suburbs. On July 3rd, we all packed into our Honda minivan and drove 45 minutes to a new home in the town of Winnetka. Within my first year at Crow Island, my new school, I learned so many new things. I started playing the violin and speaking Spanish, neither of which were offered at my old school. I met my best friends that I'm still close with now. Over the

When I first attended Houston Lamar High School, I was a little nervous because there were so many kids, but at the same time I felt confident in what I was doing. On my first day there, Mrs. Kamla introduced me to the class and

A path that led to this school, and the amazing experiences and opportunities I had and will continue to have throughout my last year here. Here is the place I’ve learn to lead in a classroom, develop my academic skills, and succeed in continuing my mission of helping others. I’ve grown into a woman with her own ideals and own convictions, which I just now realized has always been my goal in life. What I major in, what job I have, and who I marry will not confine my person to live a life where having one experience is

I would like to say thank you for everyone coming out to west tonight, either you’re supporting your daughter, Future Falcons, or Mrs. Sinksen, it doesn’t go unnoticed. So thank you once again. I would also like to talk a little bit about Mrs. Sinksen. First, I would like to say Mrs. Sinksen is one of the most kind hearted people I have met in my life. It hit me hard knowing that the unspeakable happened to her. Bad things happen to good people, it’s truly not fair. As i’ve been getting older I realized something about teachers. Teachers don’t only teach you a certain subject, but they teach you far more than that. Teachers believe in you from the start, the day you walk into their classroom, they already see a fire in you that you don’t see

In June of 1942, a senior at the Notre Dame College of Maryland wrote a prophetic message to her fellow student, Elma Kuchar Kelley. On the way to their graduation ceremony, she hurriedly scribbled in the Damozel yearbook, “I know your pupils will love you as much as we do…our loss is their gain.”

Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild shows the journey of a young man who travels to Alaska with little resources and dies. Although the young man, Chris McCandless, came from money and was very intelligent, he had a deadly obsession with Alaska and it’s ruthlessness and mystery. What started as a naive boy wanting adventure and freedom and solitude soon turned into a family mourning the death of a son and brother. Many say that it was the young lads fault for going head into something that he wasn’t prepared for, and I for one agree with them. Shaun Callarman had it right when he said that Chris McCandless “...was just plain crazy.”

The school had a friendly atmosphere about it and seemed very much like a big family as it had strong outside support from many parent helpers who voluntarily came in often providing extra help.  While there I feel I built up a good working relationship with both

In the beginning of my 9th grade year I went to school in Keaau at Kamehemeha Schools. At first i was skeptical about going there. It was a new school, with rival players from other teams of whom I didn't get

Within the first month, I felt like the entire school knew me well. Darica, the only colored female at Holton, was my biggest crush. All the kids would interrogate us to date, but we only became bestest friends. Majority of the students loved me and I miss most of them. A couple of my football mates even invited me to stay and live with them to continue football at

Thinking back through my time at Dekalb High School, I sit back in awe wondering how I made it this far. I sit back and wonder and remember the good memories, bad memories, and the unforgettable people I have met. Its crazy to think I made it this far. Its awesome to think how I’ve changed as a person from a immature freshman, to a trying finding myself as sophmore, to being a Junior and getting with the program, and now a Senior getting ready to graduate. I truly have learned life lessons, and truly gained accomplishments in my time here.

"Taliesin Myrddin lived a joyous and full life. His enthusiasm was infectious. We lost him in a senseless act that brought close to home the insidious rift of prejudice and intolerance that is too familiar, too common. He was resolute in his conduct (and) respect of all people. In his final act of bravery, he held true to what he believed is the way forward. He will live in our hearts forever as the just, brave, loving, hilarious and beautiful soul he was. We ask that in honor of his memory, we use this tragedy as an opportunity for reflection and change. We choose love. Safe journey Taliesin. We love you."

Page 70: The question he asks himself at last which is “What happens to us after we die?” shows us how he is obsessed with what happens after dying. This shows us that while thinking of death, people cannot stop thinking about what will happen to them after they die. Furthermore, this quote hints us about how responsible Miles will be of Alaska’s death since he will always think of the fact she is dead and of what may have happened to her after it.

Emily Dickinson once said, “Dying is a wild night and a new road.” Some people welcome death with open arms while others cower in fear when confronted in the arms of death. Through the use of ambiguity, metaphors, personification and paradoxes Emily Dickinson still gives readers a sense of vagueness on how she feels about dying. Emily Dickinson inventively expresses the nature of death in the poems, “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain (280)”, “I Heard a fly Buzz—When I Died—(465)“ and “Because I could not stop for Death—(712)”.

These past four years have really been a life changing experience. From a childish freshmen not only at school but at home too, to a still sometimes childish senior, one who knows when and how to control himself. This school and its teachers have taught me so many lessons that will not be forgotten any time soon.