Enjoying Life?

One part that really stuck out to me, was when Craig was talking with Humble. Humble was explaining to Craig why the other people are in the hospital like them. Craig enjoyed the conversation and laughs so much he said;
"I shouldn't be laughing at any of these people, neither should Humble, but maybe it's okay, somewhere, somehow, because we're enjoying life?" (247).
Never has Craig described life as something enjoyed until now. Discussing others problems similar to his, and laughing about them seemed to put him at ease and he enjoyed it. Maybe as his time progresses in the Hospital he'll learn that sometimes the hardships in life can be cured by laughs.

Craig's Lies-Picture!

Just thought I would post this because it reminds me of Craig a lot. He lies constantly to family, friends, and doctors, saying he doesn't hear voices in his head and that he's "okay" when obviously there is something seriously wrong. Just thought I would show you guys this, :)

Zoloft

At the end of chapter 13, Dr. Barney prescribes Craig with Zoloft and instructs him to get it right away. As soon as he started taking the medicine, improvements in his everyday life were showing. He was so astounded by the immediate results. He says, "I don't know how, but suddenly I feel good about my life- what the hell? I was a kid; I had plenty more to do; I'd been through some crap but I was learning from it" (Vizzini 98). The pills were effectively bringing Craig back to his old self. He began to feel functional and efficient again. In fact, he was so motivated by the results, that he began to thinking about talking to girls in school about his problem because he thought that would make him seem brave and sexy; he took pride in his struggle through his health issues. However, as the story progressed, Craig experienced some 'fake shifts.' When he ran out of his final bottle of Zoloft, he did not take anymore; he did not even request a new prescription from Dr. Barney. His motto was, "Okay, if I ever feel bad again, I'll remember how good it felt that night on the Brooklyn Bridge" (Vizzini 106). The pill's value had changed. Every since Nia told him pills were for wimps, it was over for him. He was done, and back to his normal self. I do not understand why he would let Nia's remark change his opinion about the drug that made him healthier. Why would he want to go back to being sick? Why does he let Nia's opinion dominate and control his own feelings? I think the decision to cease taking Zoloft was one of the worst things he could have done at that point of his life. I understand he is still in high school, and making decisions are hard because he is still immature, but why would he take something that helpful out of his life?

Reading II Reaction

This section we learned more in depth about Craig's problem. The new school he was accepted into stressed him out with the mountains of homework he was given. He was also tied up with his interest in Nia, who is in a relationship with Aaron. We also read about Craig's first "party" encounter, and the power sex, and drugs can have on a person, especially a teenager. "The papers piled up in my room, and every day whenI came home I looked at them and knew that I could handle them, that if i just opend that first one i'd be able to get through them all and get the assignment done. Instead i lay in bed and waited for Aaron to call" ( 94-95). He realized how easy it was to "party" and how hard it is "work". It may come easy for Aaron who can smoke and mess around all he wants and is still incredibly smart "Aaron, who ended up in eight out of my nine classes, fot an 100 on the start-of-school reading quiz" but it seems hard for Craig to realize that he can't always be as 'up-to-par' as his best friend ( Craig recieved a 70 on his quiz). He admires Aaron, he's older, does well in school; "he was smart fearless, with a flop of brown curly hair and the sort of glasse that made girls like him" (53). Craig's also jealous Aaron has Nia. Craig's expressed and attraction to Nia, and is jealous of Aaron ability of charisma towards girls.

Reading this section reminded me of the Beatles song, "Nowhere Man", so to spice up our blog a little;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1BVzNfqP0U

Relating to Craig

Everything that you guys have said I agree with. The book is very straightforward yet still makes you think. I definitely have met kids like this in the past. Motivation is a hard thing to gain, and once you do, it's even harder to maintain. This poor kid worked so hard for something that he didn't realize would end up being the one thing that led to his downfall and destruction.

"Other kids did everything: they were on student government; they played sports; they volunteered" and he continues to list for a few more lines (96). Then he continues to saying, "I didn't do anything but school and Tae Bo...Why were the other kids doing better than me? Because they were better, that's why...I wasn't gifted" (96). I've felt this way before. I mean think about it-colleges and parents and teachers and everyone-they're always saying do as many extra things as possible! But sometimes I think how much can I handle? I've definitely had my break down days with work and stress and Craig is having the same issue that every day people have except amplified. I just thought it was worth pointing out that the kid doesn't need to be talked to like a child and so ignorantly at the shrink's. He has valid reason for feeling the way he does, he just needs to let it out in a better way. He needs a real friend who he can relate to.

It's Kind Of A Funny Story (Part 2)

First off, I agree with Maura that this passage was focused on Craig's depression, and his problem of being "lost in the crowd." I believe that some causes for Craig's depression are that he has no self-control and he doesn't know how to handle his talents and apply them to succeed.

Craig begins the passage with possessing the quality of self-control, but by the end of the section that seems to have disappeared. On page 55 is the first time Craig hangs out with Aaron, and the first time Aaron offers Craig pot. Craig describes the conversation he had with his mother when he was 10 about not doing drugs, then he goes on to explain that when Aaron offered it to him for the first time, he said no. Progressing through the section, after Aaron and Craig get accepted into Executive Pre-Professional High School, Craig goes over Aaron's house and they decide to have a party. As Craig walks in the door, Aaron holds out the "metal cigarette" to him and says, "Smoke. Celebrate. If anytime's the time, it's now." With that, Craig loses his self-control and smokes the pot with Aaron. This detail showed that Craig could not handle the pressures of the world and his peers and lacked the strength to keep his self-control.

Craig shows his desire to succeed when he is crossing the Brooklyn Bridge with Aaron. Aaron is going on and on about Nia and her perfection and Craig tunes him out. Craig is too busy pondering what it would be like to mean something in this world, and have a purpose. Craig says, "I was happy because someday I'd be walking across the bridge looking at this city, owning some piece of it, being valuable here" (Vizzini 87). This quote showed me that Craig isn't hopeless. He may seem hopeless, going through his depression, but if he has the desire to be successful and make his mark on the world then I believe he can do it.

Part 2 Ch. 7-12

This section gives us a lot of insight into why Craig is depressed. Chapter 7 starts with Craig saying,

"So why am I depressed? That's the million-dollar question, baby, the Tootsie Roll question; not even the owl knows the answer to that one. I don't know either. All I know is chronology" (49).

Craig continues to divulge the details of the beginning of his high school career, studying incessantly in 8th grade in order to get into Manhattans best high school, Executive Pre-Professional High School. Him and his best friend Aaron both get in, but while Craig spends year of his life studying only for the test to get a perfect score, Aaron wings it and still gets a perfect score. When he starts high school at Executive Pre-Professional, he finds himself struggling to keep up with the other kids as they are all exceptionally gifted in all areas. He falls significantly behind and feels that he is a failure because his grades are 'below average' and because he can't keep up with all of his peers extracurriculars. His best friend Aaron on the other hand is doing well at school without even trying that hard, and is dating the girl that Craig had a crush on, Nia.

I think these are the main reasons craig becomes depressed, and I think almost everyone can relate to Craig's feeling of inadequacy. There is so much pressure from society to do well in school in order to get into a top college and get a good job that pays the bills. However, if you are someone like Craig, who is intelligent but may get lost in the crowd because he isn't the 'top of the top' you may get lost in the crowd. This doesn't mean he isn't smart or capable, but he thinks he isn't because he sees all of his peers being able to handle things that he can't. He also feels social pressure, to handle drugs and drinking and girls in addition to school work, and he just can't balance it like all of his friends can. This book makes me wonder what society is doing to kids like Craig, completely capable yet now because of what society has done to him he has become depressed and may not be able to ever make anything of his life.