Wild/Into the Wild Qs & As by Jenn Ingersoll https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u 1. Choose TWO writing prompts from the QUESTIONS below. 2. Post the question at the top of your entry in Padlet, and then write a thoughtful, thorough response (2 paragraphs of your best writing) below the question. 3. When finished, respond thoughtfully and thoroughly to TWO other students' responses by typing the person's name at the bottom of your Padlet entry and adding to their thoughts, challenging an idea stated, and offering your own original thoughts and connections to the question. QUESTIONS: What does it mean to be a “nonconformist”? Is being a nonconformist a good or bad thing? Can you think of any examples? What does it mean to be successful? Who is responsible for your success? Do you think solitude (spending time alone) is important? Do you practice solitude? Have you ever changed your opinion about an important issue? Which issue? What motivated your change in perspective? How do you decide what is wrong or right? Bad or good? What is happiness and what is the degree of importance in one’s life? To what extent is community essential to happiness? en-us 2018-04-24 14:09:05 UTC 2025-11-10 04:56:40 UTC hello@padlet.com Why is solitude (spending time alone) important? Do you practice solitude? jingersoll3 https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254839311 As an only child, I was accustomed to spending and enjoying time alone while growing up. I must have spent hundreds of hours in my room, but mostly in our unfinished basement rolling skating, playing with Barbie dolls, reading books, and dancing to 1980s pop music. The basement was my space to do what I wanted. Our house was small, and Mom and Dad kind of owned the upstairs - the TV shows were mostly their choice (though not always). After I went away to college at UVM, I stopped spending time alone. I had a roommate while I lived in Coolidge Hall, so it became less and less common for me to spend time alone. Then, I met Andy, my now-husband, and I spent a lot of my free time with him. It wasn't until after my dad passed away in 1997 that I began spending time alone again. At first it was difficult, and I felt lonely doing it, but eventually I found I was craving it. Over time, I learned to build in time for me. I can't imagine not having time for solitude today. It's an integral part of who I am, and spending time in the woods walking with my dogs or hiking is one of my favorite things to do in the whole world. It's a time to relax and be in the moment.

Response to student: I can identify with what you say about needing alone time. I like how you put the idea that we spend most of our time living within the boundaries of those around us...that's true for me. I almost feel like I have my "alone Jenn" personality, where I can think about anything I want, let my mind wander, and pause and reflect, is different from my "with other people Jenn" personality. I believe I am different when I'm alone. I'm probably just more able to think and not be encumbered by what others are thinking around me. Solitude is essential to happiness and quality of life...at least it is for me. ]]> 2018-04-24 14:12:25 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254839311 What does it mean to be successful? Who is responsible for your success?-Carter Pelzel https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254971924 I feel like being successful is completely based off of you and what you think. No one has the right to deem you successful or not. Being successful is when you reach your own goals and is those goals are unique to you. Personally I have a lot of sport goals, and when I reach them I will feel successful. Other people will have other goals and they should not be infringed. Success is based off of if you met your goals or not. You, and only you are responsible for being successful you can not blame anyone for not meeting YOUR goals. If you use excuses for not being successful than I do not believe you will ever be happy or successful. 

Response to BENJI :
Very nice, but having more detail will benefit your writing. 
Response to Colby:
I think that you need to write a littttle bit more than that my friend. ]]> 2018-04-24 18:11:43 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254971924 What does it mean to be successful? colby https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254972136 I think to be successful you need to have a positive way to approach things.]]> 2018-04-24 18:12:08 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254972136 What does it mean to be a “nonconformist”? Is being a nonconformist a good or bad thing? Can you think of any examples? msmith2011 https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254972410 To me a conformist is someone who stays inside the box, doesn't stray outside their comfort zone. They care about what others think and value others opinions over their own. A nonconformist makes their own decisions about their life.  Decisions and actions they make may align with the mainstream but the difference is they made the decision for themselves. They used their own opinion to make a decision rather than making the decision based on others opinions.
Conforming to a certain point is good and not harmful. Conforming to basic hygiene is good for your health and if you didn't confrom to this societal standard you would personally suffer.
Response-Owen
I agree with what you said about people finding success in different places and success is unique to each individual.

Do you think solitude (spending time alone) is important? Do you practice solitude?
I believe that solitude is important for everybody.  Sometimes I think that the perception is that if you like solitude you must be an introvert and not an extrovert. But I think that whether or not you're an extrovert or introvert solitude is important. I personally enjoy having time to myself. I love when my parents and my brother have stuff going on over the weekend and I'm home alone.  I like operating on my own agenda.  I feel like nobodys breathing down my neck. 

Response to Eric
I agree that success is doing something you love but I think that you don't have to really well known and super successful and what you love to consider yourself successful.
]]> 2018-04-24 18:12:38 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254972410 (Cierra) https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254972575 What does it mean to be successful? Who is responsible for your success?
To be successful means to accomplish things in a positive way. To me being successful means to do something you want or like doing. Being successful can make a person very happy and it can change your life, not being successful can make you negative and unhappy. Being successful I think also means to accomplish things in a good way, for example going to college means you were successful in high school so you made it to college and you want to take your career further. I picture being successful in life as accomplishing you biggest goals. 

 Do you think solitude (spending time alone) is important? Do you practice solitude?

Yes I think spending time with yourself is very important and I also think it is one of the most important things you could do for yourself. Spending time with yourself helps you learn more about who you are and what type of things you like. I always practice Solitude because I believe that spending time alone by yourself can be very helpful and could not harm you at all. Spending time alone can be fun. When I was younger me and my sister weren't as close as we are now so I was a very individual person at a young age, now I have changed but I still like spending time by myself.

]]> 2018-04-24 18:12:53 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254972575 Do you think solitude (spending time alone) is important? Do you practice solitude? bbazis20 https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254972674 There is no simple answer to this question, almost every person needs time alone, even the most extroverted person need solitude. Even the most introverted person needs social interaction.  A healthy balance between the two is the best way to live, but there are different versions of solitaire for each person, and each person has to find there was of being alone. 

What does it mean to be successful? Who is responsible for your success?

Many different people can find successful in many different ways. Some people can be preseed by peers or family to find successful in certraint field. For some people you can be successful in mundane ways that fulfill your self goals or ambitions, not depending on your peers or family. It also depends on who you are, you can be responsible for your own success in your own mind, or your success can be based on others. 

Responding to Owen- I agree with what you said for the most part, but happiness is such a vivid thing to drive for, not everyone knows what makes them happy so they have to drive for success in many aspects not just happiness. 

Responding to Julia- I agree with almost all you said, other then the fact that everyone tries to pursue happiness. I think there are many other things people drive for, and maybe for the most part it is about happiness, but for some they cant admit that fact and shelter themselves in something else. ]]> 2018-04-24 18:13:02 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254972674 What is happiness and what is the degree of importance in one’s life? To what extent is community essential to happiness? joliver202 https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254972770 There are no two people in the world that experience happiness due to the same reasons. I think happiness is what motivates all people to do the things they do. I think happiness is often confused with success. If I relate society to being like the overarching community we all live in I think happiness is deemed not essential and it is lost in the idea that money and power is what matter.  But I think if happiness is present in the life you live personally you will see the importance in yourself. 

BEN - I agree with your idea that all people need social interaction and time for themselves. I think it's important that as a whole we stop putting people into boxes and let people choose their own path if that is solitude or not so be it. 

CARTER - I 100% agree with what you said.  I think success should be an individual ideal but I think because of society it is tied to wealth and status. ]]> 2018-04-24 18:13:11 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254972770 What is the meaning of life? wnykiel20 https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254973029 I think the meaning of life is being happy & enjoying the short time you have on this earth while you have it. Life is short and you have to worship the time while you have it, enjoy solitude but also enjoy being social. Be dark and light, be happy & sad and find a way to have both of them impact your life. Life can't ever be pointless, everyone has a purpose, that is the meaning of life! Also 42!]]> 2018-04-24 18:13:38 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254973029 https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254973033 2018-04-24 18:13:38 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254973033 What does it mean to be a "nonconformist"? Who is responsible for your success? - Ricky Bobby https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254973173 A non conformist would be someone who doesn't conform to the social norm, rules, or other umbrella term that is in charge of people. You are always responsible for your success. You can be rich, and non-successful. You can be poor, and extremely successful. If you get money handed down to you, it doesn't mean your successful. Maybe your success has lead to money, but it doesn't always. A lack of money does not necessarily a lack of success.

Response to COLBY:
That's true. You have to be positive, usually, to be successful.

Response to CARTER:
That's also true, but your goals don't have to be unique to you.]]> 2018-04-24 18:13:55 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254973173 Do you think solitude is important? colby https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254973605 I think spending some time alone every once and a while could be good to for having a positive mindset.]]> 2018-04-24 18:14:42 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254973605 Do you think solitude (spending time alone) is important? Do you practice solitude? https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254974085 By Tom

I think spending time alone is important because you learn responsibility and no one is around to judge you. When no one is around to judge you it allows you to be yourself. You can learn more about more about yourself because you have time to reflect on your life.

Response to Connor

I agree success is when you accomplish something you are working for. In some cases it is money but it could be other things like sports.]]> 2018-04-24 18:15:37 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254974085 Do you solitude is important? Do you practice solitude? (Joslyn) https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254974401 I think that solitude is important becuase it gives you time to think or just relax you body. And both of those two things are an important thing in your life. I say this becuase personally I wouldn't be able to function. 

I personally practice this at least everyday if not mutple times a day. Due to that fact that I strongly agree that spending time by your self is an important part of time. ]]> 2018-04-24 18:16:23 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254974401 What does it mean to be successful? Who is responsible for your success? - Eric Scharf https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254974692 I believe that being successful is doing something you love and accomplishing a lot in that area. For example,  if someone works hard a lot in business, and builds their own company that makes millions of dollars per year, they are very successful in that line of work. To answer the question, "who is responsible for your success?"  it really depends. If you're a young man or woman who's never worked a day in your life and then inherits your parent's company, you're not successful. You're "successful" only because of your parent's success. I think that your parents definitely could be a help in your success, but you are truly the one that defines whether or not you'll make a name for yourself in life.

To respond to Tom's answer, I think that you're right; it is much easier to be yourself when no one is watching you. However, I think that it can be important to have people give you constructive criticism, because it's easier for someone to notice your potential mistakes and call you out on them.  Though you may be able to learn more about yourself when you're alone, other people can also help you to discover new things about yourself that you may not have noticed being alone. Think about this analogy: when you're editing your own writing, there are a lot of things you don't see reading it yourself. When you have someone else read your paper over, they notice a lot of little mistakes that you didn't catch- it's very helpful in the process of making your writing the best it can be. So that analogy is basically the same in the present context, except the paper is you as a person, and having someone else look at your paper is having someone else point out little flaws to help make "your paper" (you) a better person all around.

To respond to Carter's paragraph, I agree with you on your idea of what successful means and who defines it. If you're in the public eye, people may try to define whether you're successful or not, but in the end it's true- whether you're successful or not is up to you. ]]> 2018-04-24 18:16:59 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254974692 Do you think solitude is important? -Abbie https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254974729 yes I do believe that it is important because it is proven that it can help with mental health.  I like to be alone to recharge and relax.]]> 2018-04-24 18:17:03 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254974729 What does it mean to be successful? Who is responsible for your success? stanguay20 https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254975634 I believe success is when you accomplish something that you have personally did. You can't succeed if someone else does it for you. People that succeed don't need to rely  on others to succeed for you. I think that success is a personal thing. ]]> 2018-04-24 18:18:39 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254975634 Do you think solitude is important? -Jose Pena https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254975699 Yes, I do because if you are alone somewhere or you don't have anyone else in your life, I think if you are solitude you can live on your own, without any problem.  I think it is important because you can learn more things on your own.

I believe be solitude not only help you live on your own, help you grow up as a mature person and stronger person.]]> 2018-04-24 18:18:47 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254975699 https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254975719


]]> 2018-04-24 18:18:48 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254975719 What does it mean to be successful? Who is responsible for your success? https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254976164 You are successful when you have money. You have worked for a while towards something. You have accomplished something not everyone else has. 

Connor Noyes


Response to Tom,

I agree that you need solitude to be your self
 ]]> 2018-04-24 18:19:49 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254976164 Do you think solitude (spending time alone) is important? Do you practice solitude? https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254976423 Spending time with yourself is important in self growth. Solitude helps the mind expand on your past, present, and future. It gives you time to reflect on yourself and what you have been doing/ will be doing to better yourself. I practice solitude and it has helped me in my journey through life immensely.
- Maia C . ]]> 2018-04-24 18:20:23 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254976423 What does it mean to be successful? Who is responsible for your success? https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254977769 2018-04-24 18:23:11 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254977769 What does it mean to be successful? Who is responsible for your success? (Owen Myka Smith) omykasmith20 https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254977855 Success manifests itself in many ways, These ways change from person to person. Some may find it best to find success through doing well in school and feeling secure in life, others find it through maybe finding love. In all these instances I think that happiness is a huge driving force for finding success, and many would call being truly happy is to be truly successful. Most people are responsible for their own success, but people can have their opinions swayed and changed by other people, which can in some cases lead to people finding success in things they wouldn’t have thought of, or being stuck in something someone else would call success without really being happy with it.

Do you think solitude (spending time alone) is important? Do you practice solitude? 

I do think solitude is important, it's easy dilute ourselves with always being around others or being on social media or just engaging our minds with something other than ourselves. Being alone can feel amazing, and letting your mind rest is something we don't do enough. I love being alone, being in the woods or just in my house, I feel like I can breathe easier and not worry about anything
]]> 2018-04-24 18:23:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254977855 What is happiness and what is the degree of importance in one’s life? To what extent is community essential to happiness? zgluck20 https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254978550 I think that happiness is one of the most important things in an individual's life because happiness is (in my opinion at least) the meaning of life.  I think this because if you are unhappy living then living becomes a chore and not the wonderful thing that it can be.  Happiness makes life  fun and enjoyable and keeps our reality from being dull and boring.  
I personally think that community is not essential for happiness.  While I personally would not be happy living without other people I know that some people actually prefer to be alone for the vast majority of the time.  These people could (and in some cases would like to) live without others and would overall be more happy because of it. 


]]> 2018-04-24 18:24:38 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254978550 What is happiness and what is the degree of importance in one’s life? To what extent is community essential to happiness? stanguay20 https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254978697 I believe that you need to have some point of happiness in your life. If you don't your not living life at its fullest. I think that people can always make eachother happy. You are usually happy when your with your friends. You can be happy when your alone, you can win a game of Fortnite or if you are Connor the Eagles winning the Superbowl. ]]> 2018-04-24 18:24:57 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254978697 How do you decide what is wrong or right? https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254981300 Abbie
I usually have a gut feeling where my body tries to reject the thought of something either before or after it is done. Others say that they just know. Like their brain just clicks and they know not to do something. I know some people who don't get either of those and people have to tell them that it may not be the best idea. When it is something good, I get a different twist with something that just tells you that it's good.]]> 2018-04-24 18:29:51 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254981300 Who is responsible for your success? https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254981328 I think you are responsible ]]> 2018-04-24 18:29:54 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/254981328 QUESTIONS: What is happiness and what is the degree of importance in one’s life? To what extent is a community essential to happiness? https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/255875415 Happiness is different for everyone, no one will experience the same happiness as someone else because all experiences are different. But without happiness and experiencing it in everyday life would be very boring for a person's life. There is no right answer for “what is happiness” because everyone gets happiness from different things. That could be sports, music, or people they associate themselves with. 
A community is essential to happiness because of the bigger picture, you could wake up everyday alone with nothing to look forward to or you could wake up and know that along some point of the day you’ll see a familiar face that you have something in common with and they and the world around you will become a brighter and better place 

]]> 2018-04-27 02:02:41 UTC https://padlet.com/jingersoll3/bf3kv9zv327u/wish/255875415