Today, we explored a powerful short story by Todd Strasser called, "On the Bridge." In it, we meet two protagonists named Adam and Seth who are both grappling with their identities--trying to figure out who they are, and who they want to be.
By the end of the story, we see that Seth's jacket has come to symbolize the "self" he was trying on--and it no longer fits! He wants to be more than just another "tough guy." Now, he wants to be real with himself. So, he throws the jacket into the trash.
I appreciated hearing your ideas and comments about the story, and the writing you did afterwards.
Now that we've had time to digest some of the story's themes and symbolism, share your ideas about this question: in middle school, do you think most people wear "jackets" that don't fit? Do you think most people are trying on different personalities and trying to figure out who they are--just like Seth? Why or why not?
Our word of the day today is SUBLIME, which means, inspiring awe; great; noble.
I think a lot of people in middle school wear jackets. It's not until high school or college do people actually start to figure out who they are.
ReplyDelete-Olivia Diodato
I think a lot of people try to change themselves to get people to like them, and they wear a "jacket". They think that they need to "fit in" or be mainstream to be liked, when really, if they aren't being themselves, then the people don't really like YOU they just like your "jacket".
ReplyDelete-Colleen Guerriero
Good point.
DeleteYes I do think that people in middle school who are insecure about who they are or ashamed or wanting to become someone else will do this.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think people wear "jackets" because everyone is trying to fit in with groups instead of others accepting who you really are.
ReplyDelete-Angela Xing
I thinks most people wear jackets because in middle school kids like to be with kids they think are "cool" so they put on a jacket to become more like that person/people.
ReplyDelete--Colin McHugh
I think many people in middle school try on different "jackets" because they aren't comfortable being themselves or want to fit in with other people.
ReplyDelete--Grace Acton
During my time at Bromfield I have not come across anyone in our grade who wheres a jacket that doesn't fit.
ReplyDelete--Sean McNamara
Yes, I think people do wear jackets when they feel insecure, and feel they must wear them jackets in order to be cool or liked.
ReplyDelete-Meenu Ramakrishnan
I think most people in middle school do wear jackets and they don't fit. This is because they want to seem 'cool' even though what they think is 'cool' might not be who they really are.
ReplyDeleteFiona Morrison
I do believe a lot of people in middle school wear "jackets" and are trying to figure out who they are. This is because, in my opinion, middle school is a time for people to experiment and grow up, figure out who they want to be and who they are. Sometimes it takes a few years, sometimes it takes longer. It depends on the person.
ReplyDelete-Gwyneth Smedley
I think that most people in middle school wear "jackets" for many different reasons. Fitting in, getting one specific person to like (or dislike) them, etc..
ReplyDeleteI do believe middle schoolers are wearing "jackets" because they always have to be one way to fit in with everybody else instead of just being themselves.
ReplyDelete--Emily Rypinski
I think a lot of people in middle school wear jackets. They start to figure out who they are once they get older.
ReplyDelete-Sara Picariello
Yes!! I do. I strongly believe that at this age children try to be someone they are not as part of a journey to find who they really are. I know I find myself acting like someone i am not and even sometimes someone i would despise if I saw them act the way they do. But i think it is necessary to find you.
ReplyDelete~~~Dylan Ashe~~~
I think middle school is the time where people try on jackets of all different types, everyone is experimenting a little with one jacket, then another. Just like Seth, people decide wether they like the jacket, or not.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do think that people in middle school wear "jackets", because they are insecure about who they really are, (they just want to fit in or "be cool"), and also because their interests and a lot of things that define a person are changing at that time. Some kids might not even know who they themselves are. They need to be someone at least, and why not be a cool person while you're at it?
ReplyDelete-Shreya Kumar
I think most people in are grade wear "jackets",everyone is just trying to fit in. You should never change yourself for others, your real friends should like your true self. Everyone is made to be unique, and beautiful in their own way.
ReplyDelete--Anna Laursen
Yeah I think many people wear "Jackets" to try to be someone they are not, but end up doing/acting a way that they normally wouldn't want to.
ReplyDelete-=-=-=-Collin Burns-=-=-=-
Yes, I think that people wear "jackets," because they want to fit in. Usually, people in middle school care less about who they really are and more on how they want other people to see them as.
ReplyDelete~Lwiza AitDowd
yes most people wear jackets and are unsatisfied with who they think they are
ReplyDelete--Isaac noble
Yes I think most people do "wear jackets" because everyone is trying to fit in and not stand out in a bad way. One way this is shown is that when you're at good friend's house you can tell they act different at school because they're okay with being open to their close friends but not with people who they need to prove they're cool to.
ReplyDeleteI do think that people wear "jackets" because we all don't really know who we are or what we like jet. And we kinda blend in with our friends.
ReplyDelete-Alondra Pacheco-Flores
Yep, i think tons of people wear jackets to be with the "cool" kids. They do things that just aint right and aint mature untill they realize they have to stop pretending.
ReplyDeleteYes I think we wear jackets in our life because we are all trying to find out true identity and sometimes we find one and sometimes we don't.
ReplyDelete~cierra wilkins
Yes, I do think that people wear "jackets" because some people can't execpt who they really are and they hid it with a "jacket". Hopefully in the end, they will throw it away like Seth did.
ReplyDelete--Meili Stanten
Yes I do think that people in middle school wear not so good fitting jackets. During this time, it's not just them, it's everybody that is trying new jackets to see which one fits them the best on them.
ReplyDelete-- Olivia Gomez
Yeah, they wear "jackets" because they are uncomfortable and want to fit in.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of people wear "jackets" to fit in with their "friends" and be popular in school.
ReplyDeleteJulia Proteau
I think a lot of people in middle school wear "jackets" both boys and girls. They can be friends with one person in middle school but then find out that they aren't being their real self so they are friends with a totally different person in high school. I think that people who are more ashamed or self-conscious tend to wear "jackets" more because they are trying to hide their true self.
ReplyDelete-Emmalyn Mirarchi
I think that a lot of people wear jackets in middle school. I think this because most of the people want to fit in with a group and not act "uncool" to other people instead of just accepting who they really are.
ReplyDelete-Pasha Sahin
Yes, I do believe people keep on trying different "jackets" because middle school can be one of the toughest times of your life. Everyone in Middle School (in 7th, and 8th grade especially) is changing interests, developing, and becoming more emotional too. It's hard to find who you are.
ReplyDelete--Tommy Wacek
I think a lot of people try to act different than they really are. I think some people are some people are just trying to fit in with everybody else
ReplyDeleteyes because people are trying to fit in so they are trying new jackets
ReplyDelete-Jacob elliott
I think a lot of people try on jackets because they think they need to be a certain way for people to like them. If someone likes you when your wearing your jacket then they just like your jacket. They don't know the real you.
ReplyDelete-Stefan Scornavacca
Sadly Yes I think people are afraid to show their real self in fear of getting bullied so they use "jackets" to cover them up
ReplyDelete-Dwight Childers
I do think people in middle school wear "jackets" because they are afraid to stand out and be different. They find it easier to be someone else because they don't want to expose their true self and risk being made fun of. Some evidence of this is when one person acts differently depending on who they are with.
ReplyDelete-Liza Toll
Yes, I think everyone wears a "jacket" once in their life, you can't always be happy with yourself and you want to fit in.
ReplyDeletepeople wear jackets to cover what they think is a flaw but really could be there best quality Thomas gibbons
ReplyDeleteI think that people do try on "jackets" or personas as they're trying to figure out which one suits them best.
ReplyDelete-Tessa
I think people wear a jacket to fit in because they feel like people will like them; when really people should not only like you for what they wear, but ewho they are.
ReplyDelete~Olivia Noyes
Yes, they are wearing "jackets" because they want to feel included and the want to fit in.
ReplyDeleteYes I think everyone in middle school is trying on jackets that don't fit because middle school is where most people want to fit in and it's really hard for most kids. I don't think anyone should know who they really are yet anyways because we are too young to really know the truth about ourselves.
ReplyDelete--- Lucy Bodtman
I think in middle school, the fact is that there is everything. It's a place that some people think is to get popular, and others feel a sense of maturity to experiment. Sometimes people are just themselves.
ReplyDelete--Raiya Suliman
I have a feeling that lots of people wear jackets because usually most people don't find out things like what they really like to do for fun or what type of person they are. This stuff just has to take time and you can't rush it.
ReplyDelete~Caroline Mara~
yes i think that everyone wears a jacket whether they know it or not, some people wear it because they are afraid that who really they are isn't a good thing
ReplyDeletewill armstrong
In middle school, I think that people aren't "wearing/trying on jackets", but "jacket shopping". By this, I mean that they don't own/have jackets they are trying on for long periods of time, instead they are at the store trying on new jackets, many in a short period of time.
ReplyDelete~Magnus Miller
Unfortunately, yes, I do think that most people wear jackets that don’t fit. Lots of people try go with the flow and some people try to act like someone else who they think is cooler than them self instead of just truly being their self.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, yes, I do think that most people wear jackets that don’t fit. Lots of people try go with the flow and some people try to act like someone else who they think is cooler than them self instead of just truly being their self.
ReplyDeletePeople will wear jackets to cover up their imperfections when it suits them, and they'll be themselves completely when it suits them.
ReplyDeleteI think that in middle school, most people put on a jacket. It might be because they feel like they need it in order to fit in, or because growing up, their parents put on jackets and taught their kid(s) to wear a jacket. So the jacket might fit when the person is with their friends, or possibly their "friends" but it won't fit when they are trying to be themselves.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of middle schoolers do wear jackets. I think they do because they feel like to not stand out they have to put on a jacket and hide who they really are.
ReplyDelete- Rachel Shrives
I think that people do wear "jackets" because they want to be like the others. They think others' "jackets" fit perfectly... but really, most don't.
ReplyDeleteYes I think people just think certain kids are cool and copy there clothes
ReplyDelete--Mark Goldsher
Not all People wear jackets and the ones who do are looking for themselves and the people who dont already know who they are
ReplyDeleteI think most people don't wear jackets because they like to be themselves. There aren't many people that have to act like someone else.
ReplyDelete-David Sampson
I think a lot of kids do this because they are still trying to see where they fit in and who they're best compatible/friendly with.
ReplyDelete>>>>>>Clayton Hanlon<<<<<<<
Yes, people do wear different jackets, but that's just a part of growing up. Some people may fit in a jacket for one year but the next it will be too small for them. It's up to them if they want to stay in that jacket, get a bigger size, or try an over sized one. This is possible along with other possibilities.
ReplyDeleteNick Joe Lewis
I believe that almost everyone wears a jacket and sometimes it doesn't fit. I feel that some people are wearing the wrong jacket, thinking it fits them, only to find out sooner or later it's time to throw it out and find a new one. Others, have seemed to already found the perfect jacket that fits them well, and intend to keep it for a long time. I think middle school is the level where everyone is different, and at a different stage of maturity, so answers may vary depending on the person.
ReplyDeletei think that people wear jackets that don't fit because they like them and don't want to throw them away. when it gets way to small they find a new one
ReplyDeletemichael gibbons
i think that people wear jackets that don't fit because they like them and don't want to throw them away. when it gets way to small they find a new one
ReplyDeletemichael gibbons