Hey everyone! Emma here. Sorry about how inactive I’ve been. With the Student Blogging Challenge over, I haven’t been posting much. My class plans on participating in the Spring Challenge, so I’ll be posting weekly when that starts. Today in class, we were given the assignment to write a 7- 9- or 11-point listicle (odd numbers catch the attention of viewers) about what we learned in 8th grade.

1. How to Art
   • In the past year, I’ve used my drawing tablet and computer more often than I used to. I’ve learned how to make clipping masks, use different shading and coloring techniques. I’ve also tried different mediums traditionally, like alcohol markers. I’ve really expanded my knowledge and skill in the art world.
2. Pointe
   • Throughout 8th grade, I’ve gotten a lot stronger on pointe in ballet, and I’m a lot more comfortable than I used to be. There are a few things I’m not so good at quite yet (ex: I still cannot pirouette on pointe), but I’m getting better and am very excited for the spring recital, where I will perform my first dance on pointe.
3. Broadway
   • I was introduced to the Broadway musicals Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical the summer before 8th grade. Throughout the year, I’ve been exposed to other musicals, such as Newsies, Beetlejuice and Mean Girls. I have been sucked very deep into the rabbit hole of musical theater. I also learned that Broadway merchandise is incredibly expensive (looking at you, $70 Hamilton hoodie).
4. Random History Facts
   • This year, I’ve spent a lot of time scrolling through Pinterest, and along the way I’ve discovered some pretty ridiculous (and possibly untrue) facts about history. For example, did you know that Thomas Jefferson invented Macaroni and Cheese, and popularized the swivel chair? Also, Aaron Burr set himself on fire (twice!) when he tried to light a candle  with a gun. One of my personal favorites is that Peggy Schuyler once got an axe thrown at her head while she was saving a baby (that’s a long story, please ask me to elaborate!).
5. Studying
   • This past year, I have learned a lot about studying. At my school, the 8th graders take Civics instead of History. Civics is one class that you must study for. You cannot be there, get the notes, and walk in on test day ready to talk your way through it. Whenever I have a test or quiz in Civics, I spend at least two days studying before it.
6. Spirit Week
   • Over the past year, I’ve learned that my classmate Nature Nerd (check out her blog here) has the most colorful wardrobe of the entire grade. Nobody out spirit-week’s her. Need to wear yellow for spirit day? She’s got gold lipstick, eye shadow and blush, a yellow tutu, shirt, leggings and some yellow jewelry. Forgot to wear your blue? I’m sure she has some blue makeup on hand. Wait, we were supposed to wear green? Take her scarf! She’s got enough green to spare. It’s really fun to watch people try to beat her in the extreme sport of spirit-weeking!
7. Writing
   • I’ve always had story ideas floating in my head, but I first really started writing in 4th grade. Over the past years, especially 8th grade, I’ve learned a lot about how to, as Jack Kelly puts it in Newsies, “write good.” I’ve started, restarted and deleted so many stories, and the one I’ve still stuck with has been edited, rewritten, and cringed at a lot over the past three years. I’ve learned how to write well, describe a setting or experience, and how to structure a story (plan, plan, PLAN), through Communications class, as well as trial and error.

Thanks for checking out my blog! I hope you enjoyed reading about what I’ve learned in 8th grade, and I hope you learned something, too! If you enjoyed it, I would love it if you left me a comment and a link to your blog so I can return the favor.