Writing Through Time: From Then to Now

In my first major writing piece of the year, an essay of Paolo Coehlo’s book, The Alchemist, I had some difficulties with my ideas and content, my writing did not always flow well, and with that, came other problems. When I gave the topic, I had a bad habit of breaking focus on it and making it seem weak and it appeared I did not truly understand the topic. I also found many good ideas prior to the writing piece but I was unable to give a strong explanation about them, so the ideas became useless to me. As an example, when I found a quote that I thought worked well with the topic of the paragraph, I would not be able to say why I thought it was a good quote and I stumbled on finding the correct context. Though, as the year progressed, and we began to cover more creative writing techniques in class, I improved significantly. In my Julius Caesar essay, I was able to make sense of my writing by reviewing the main ideas and topics of the book over and over. To show I had a firm grip on the topic, I went through the book multiple times to find the ideal quotes that I knew I could explain and that I knew would do well to give good context. When I found the main contexts of the chosen quotes, the rest came easily. I could link in relevant and interesting ideas that would not originally be in the writing piece. Along with give me good context, the quotes and ideas had to be able to keep the reader interested.

In my Alchemist essay, I even found trouble in keeping my attention on the piece, and I still have problems with it. The hooks I brought to the piece were not strong enough and kept breaking under the lack of interesting elements. Along with my topic/starting paragraph, my body paragraphs were not started clearly, making it hard for the reader to understand the points I was trying to give. Over time, I was able to develop the skill to create good hooks for my reader. The quotes I had chosen for my Julius Caesar Essay were read over and over again, by me and my peers to see if they made enough of an impact in my writing to earn high marks. To achieve superior organization I think I may need much more preparation time to get the best I can out of my topic and quotes to create an interesting piece of work.

As far as improvement goes, I believe I have made some significant progress. My writing now, as compared to then, is much easier to understand and easier to flow through to get the main ideas. My original pieces of work did not do well in terms of flowing with each other and connecting to quotes and so on and so forth, whereas my work now is easier for me to go through when revising and when reading. I was also finding trouble in giving a clear, clear topic in my essays before so my writing piece would sound a little strange, as it would be hard to understand what it was about. All in all, throughout the course of the year, I picked up quite a few skills that made my work easier to read and in the long shot, write. I learned how to easily identify the main topics of the literature, to find appropriate ways to address them in writing and to get a clear visual across to my reader with some creative thinking involved.

The SLRs that worked best for me in writing my essays were Think Creatively and Collaborate Constructively. It takes effort to make a piece of writing sound nice and smooth but it also takes some imagination to add interesting elements to it as well. When writing my essay, I, as well as everyone else, despise reading bland, lengthy paragraphs that do not hook you in what so ever, so I make an effort to do so. I toss in some emotion into the mixture with strong words that grab attention such as ‘Tragedy’ or ‘True Joy’ and other words that will make someone want to read more. As well as keeping a slight grip on the audience, I also had to make sure I was giving my point across, which was the main point of the whole essay. My essay could be lengthy, bulky and stretched out, but it is worthless if I there is no point to the words I use. My statements have to be chosen carefully to make sure they give the reader a solid base on which they can build the rest of the information given from the writing piece.

Brutus: The Man of Internal War

‘I know no personal cause to spurn at him but for the general. He would be crown’d: how that might change his nature, there’s the question.’

In the play Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare, Brutus, a member of the Roman Republic is attempting to justify his actions for killing Caesar. Julius Caesar was an ambitious, powerful character that had been offered the crown and with what Brutus knows, he finds the situation could prove dangerous. He knows that he has no personal reasons for murdering Caesar but he contemplates on what Caesar may become if he is to take the crown. Brutus’ decision has his actions driven by what he finds is beneficial to the people. Brutus joins the conspiracy and murders Julius Caesar, but he does so with honorable intentions and love for Rome and it’s people.

Brutus does many of the things he does for the good of Rome and the murder of Caesar was no exception. Since Brutus has no individual explanation to strike Caesar, he will do it out of patriotism towards his people and country. ‘It may be by his death; and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him but for the general.’ At this point in time, Brutus knows that if he kills Caesar, it will not be for his own benefit but for Rome. Brutus describes Caesar as a serpent, still in it’s egg, and harmless. If the people were to give a crown to Caesar, he sees as if they would be giving him a deadly weapon to cause grief and destruction. Brutus killed Caesar to protect the people from what Caesar could become. His intentions are not for revenge or envy but for the better of others. Brutus also finds that the killing of Caesar would be like the washing away of filth of Rome, to purify the city of the ambition of Caesar and he tells that to the other conspirators. ‘We shall be called purgers, not murderers.’ Brutus’ reasoning for killing Caesar shows he has true patriotism and his patriotism is where he finds his honor.

Honor is one of, if not the most valuable thing to Brutus. Brutus’ forefathers had taken down tyrannical rulers before him for the better of Rome and he knows that his reasoning should be the same. ‘Well honor is the subject of my story.’ Brutus is a highly respected figure of Rome and he takes his honor in all seriousness. Brutus’ love for the people drove him to do what is best for them and what will allow him to build if not, keep in his honor. Appearance is not the only thing Brutus attaches honor to but also his actions. While meeting with the other conspirators the night before the kill, Brutus lets the other conspirators know that killing Caesar should not be done out of wrath. They should sacrifice him not butcher him. ‘Let’s be sacrificers but not butchers… Caesar must bleed for it. And, gentle friends, let’s kill him boldly but not wrathfully.’ Brutus’ honorable intentions lead him to kill Caesar with high respects, as Brutus does respect Caesar as well as love him. He must also let the other conspirators know that in their act, they must do it out of confidence and courage to stand up for the people not with envy for themselves. Brutus’ intentions were indeed honorable and he was not the only one to see so.

Brutus’ reasoning for his actions allowed him to conclude that what he was doing was the right thing. Through his patriotism Brutus would protect the people of Rome and he would maintain his honor. These motivators made Brutus act for the people, leaving the benefits to them. Unfortunately, Brutus’ goal was not met, as a matter of fact; he met the polar opposite of what he wanted to happen. Antony, an extremely loyal follower of Caesar turned the clean sacrifice into a dirty, bloody murder enraging the people and riling up those who supported Caesar. But after all had been settled, even Antony admitted the Brutus was an honorable man. Even though it was not met, Brutus’ goal was a noble one. His actions were driven out of selflessness and high respect, not envy and anger. His mind was set on what was best for Rome and not himself proving it worthy.

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

It is almost strange to me that I take peoples suffering and use it for creative thinking but in this way, I can show others all of the trouble the Sudanese people live through every day. The Sudanese strife can be portrayed in many ways but I chose to show that for every bad encounter, a good one trails closely behind it. Many, many things happened to the Sudanese Lost Boys; loss of loved ones and homes and war trodden dreams but now that they have been given the opportunities to not only give themselves a new start but to help their families and friends back home. Keeping in mind that life in the United States is no easy task, many of the Lost Boys have pulled through with each other through thing such as sports and assimilation centers, after all, there is no Heaven on Earth.

I used the text on my poster to evoke action to the viewer. Some sections emphasize protection that should be given and some emphasize help that is on the way but the main supporters of the text are my chosen images. My images are, if not emotional, informative. There are news headlines, real images of Dinka people and culture and literal representations of what is happening to the people over in Sudan. Chains and bonds, fire and tears and separation all connect to the suffering people in literal and figurative terms. To bring back that idea of one good result for every bad, the images in the good side of the page show gentle hopes and peace and help for the people that arrive. Education for jobs, jobs to earn money, money to live, the whole idea of a new start forming into a domino effect. Another emphasis on my pictures works it’s way into the placement. I used the images of suffering on the lower half of the page, and the brighter side of the issue on the top.

Throughout the page, I show still parts of Dinka culture but I also work in the plight of the Lost Boys. In a burning country, I have a trail of feet showing where the boys went physically but where they went mentally and emotionally are other stories. Filling in the back of the page are words that can only explain the bare minimum of what the boys faced even though those words are powerful in themselves. A hidden eye reveals itself to say that even though all of this trouble, even though so many lives are being stolen, even though ear-piercing explosions seem to shatter the sky, no one seems to know, and even if they know, they pretend they do not see.

From the fire to the fading banner to the tears and the child soldier between the text and images are small cuts of despair from the people that ooze the need for empathy that I hope will be mended by people all over the world. The people of Sudan are suffering and the only things that people will truly ever do, is talk about doing something, no matter how much they say they will help. There is no solution to this issue if all anyone will do is say what they will do but not get off their bums and truly do something. As was written in Shakespeare’s play ‘Julius Caesar’, ‘Speak arms not words for me!’. In other words, enough talk and more action. As in said on the poster, ‘The World promised protection, let’s keep that promise.’ The World promised protection, not the US, not Canada, not Spain or the UK, the world promised to do something and my work speaks out on that issue. Ease the suffering, help put out the flames and let the people know that their cries are heard.

There Is No Heaven on Earth

From the hot climate of Africa, to the industries of Houston Texas, Peter assimilates to American culture. A Sundanese refugee, part of a group known as the Lost Boys of Sudan, Peter had much trouble starting out because not only was he adjusting to the US culture but the US people were adjusting to him. During the first few months, Peter and his friends were discriminated against by people and jobs were hard to find because of their color. Many people showed strong racism towards him and on a few occasions, crimes were committed against them such as thievery, when they were barely making ends meet as it was. Money was tight and out side friends were scarce and to top off the trouble, the people in Sudan still needed help. Many of the jobs with better pay required some kind of education and in Houston, Peter just couldn't find it, so he packed his few belongings and headed on up to Kansas City, KA.

Peter knew that what he was looking for (a better start, help for back home) just couldn't be found where he was. In Kansas, Peter was able to find good people, other Sudanese refugees who had found a place to receive a good education, he took the opportunity and did his best to get the most out of it. After moving to Kansas City, Peter made new friends and within the relationships he gained more and more respect from other people. Even though the beginning was hard, Peter made it through the culture shock and cultural divisions safely.

Shakespeare: Julius Caesar

The context of my passage is of Marullus and Flavius, two tribunes of the Roman Senate, talking about how Caesar has been carefully planning his every move so he can become an idol to the people of Rome. In their eyes, Caesar is gaining to much power and too easily influencing the people of Rome, like a wolf to a flock of sheep. For example Flavius said to Marullas "It is no matter; let no images Be hung with Caesar’s trophies. I’ll about And drive away the vulgar from the streets; So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These growing feathers pluck’d from Caesar’s wing Will make him fly an ordinary pitch, Who else would soar above the view of men And keep us all in servile fearfulness." This shows that Caesar has too much power and he is compared to a dangerous vulture gliding over head the Roman People, making them prey to their fear.

The reason my partner and I picked this is because of it's significance to the story... This passage is foreshadowing what Caesar may do if he continues to grow in power and what greatness Rome will be without his authority or command. It also shows that there is internal conflict in the Republic with Caesar as it's cause.

Page 22-24, Scene 1, Lines 33-75

Marullus: Where fore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? what tributaries follow him to Rome, To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels? You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft Have you clim'b up to walls and battlements, To towers and windows, yea,to chimney-tops, Your infants in your arms, and there have sat The livelong day, with patient expectation, To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome: Have you not made an universal shout, That Tiber trembled underneath her banks To hear the replication of your sounds Made in her concave shores? And do you now put on your best attire? And do you now cull out a holiday? And do you now strew flowers in his way, That comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood? Be gone! Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, Pray to the gods to intermit the plague That needs must light on this ingratitude.

Flavius: Go, go, good countrymen, and for this fault Assemble all the poor men of your sort; Draw them to the Tiber banks, and weep your tears Into the channel, till the lowest stream Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.

(Exeunt all the Commoners)

See where their basest mettle be not mov’d; They vanish tongue-ties in their guiltiness. Go you down that way towards the Capitol; This way will I Disrobe the images, If you do find them deck’d with ceremonies.

Marullus: May we do so? You know it is the feast of Lupercal.

Flavius: It is no matter; let no images Be hung with Caesar’s trophies. I’ll about And drive away the vulgar from the streets; So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These growing feathers pluck’d from Caesar’s wing Will make him fly an ordinary pitch, Who else would soar above the view of men And keep us all in fearfulness.

My partner in this duet is Ryan Scott

'The School of Athens'

The Renaissance period was the time of knowledge and the arts. People were gaining, experimenting with and exploring new knowledge, the key element of the 'rebirth' after the Middle Ages and The School of Athens shows just that. To bring out the best of his time, Raphael decided to paint all of the greatest thinkers, Philosophers, Mathematicians and Scientists in one area, to emphasize the importance of knowledge. The focus of the painting that gives it away is in fact the focal point, an artistic technique developed and used in the Renaissance period. The focal point of the artwork is Plato with his apprentice Aristotle. Plato and Aristotle, next to being the main focus of the painting, divide it into two separate sections; Mathematics and Science, two of the most experimented and researched subjects the Renaissance built on. 'The School of Athens' is a reminder of the base the Renaissance was built on. This painting was and still is able to sum up the purpose of the Renaissance.

Who Am I?

Amongst the geniuses and significant thinkers, I place myself as a symbol, Athena. Athena was a deity of the ancient greeks. She was the Goddess of war, wisdom, arts and justice. In 'The School of Athens', Athena gazes down upon the scientists who are discussing and revealing the new ideas that supported the Renaissance. I feel I am like Athena because I share a passion for the traits she is known for. I too find a great interest in the arts, learning and creating but also, to a limit, destroying. I have always been intrigued by war and why it comes around and how there is not always the sense of fairplay. Having avdantages has always been a good thing in my opinion but when the advantage was not earned in a fair way, I can't help but feel injustice. Athena was also the icon of wisdom which was much of the time focused around Science, which is also my forte is school. Athena and I posess similar characteristics but in the same way we are so different.

The Perseverance of William Wilberforce

Santiago was an adolesent Spaniard boy in search of his destiny. A native of Adalusia Spain, he became a shepherd when he was an early teenager and left home to wander the plains of Spain. Born a christian, Santiago went to school to become a preist but realized, it would never satisfy him. Testing luck, Santiago bravely abandoned the life he knew, for another. After two years of wandering the region with his sheep, Santiago truly began to search for his destiny. Along the journey, he met a few notable characters that helped him along his way. Unfortunately, Santiagos journey, like so many others, didn'r run a smooth course. Obstacles blocked his path and disarmed Santiago with doubt and fear. Like William Wilberforce, it did not stop Santiago for long. Keeping his eye on the right path, he found his Destiny. Santiago learned to follow omens, came to know the Soul of the World and learned to Speak to Language of the world.


William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) was a British Politician, a philanthropist and a leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780 and became the independent member of Parliament or Yorkshire (1784–1812). In 1785, he underwent a conversion experience and became an evangelical Christian ,resulting in major changes to his lifestyle and a lifelong concern for reform. In 1787, he came into contact with Thomas Clarkson and a group of anti-slave-trade activists, including Granville Sharp, Hannah Moore and Charles Middleton. They persuaded Wilberforce to take on the cause of abolition, and he soon became one of the leading English abolitionists. During the time of his campaign, in spite of the petitions and lectures and arguments, Wilberforce was constantly thrown down by other members of Parliament and people.

In the streets, people would shout at him and scream of failure. "You are fighting a losing battle!", "Your arguments are ignored as you shall be if you don't leave them behind!" ~ quotes William heard throughout the streets of Yorkshire. Other members of Parliament tortured him by flaunting about the court rooms beating their slaves and shouting at them. William wondered why cruelty was the economy of the world, financed by arrogance and pompous men, he wondered, when will this terror end? Many friends who helped him along in the campaign died and hundreds of thousands of slaves passed away while he fought for their freedom. He never let that stand in his way, though. He headed the parliamentary campaign against the British slave trade for twenty-six years until the passage of the Slave Trade Act 1807. William was reverred a hero in the eyes of thousands, not only to the slaves but to those too scared to stand up. (Wikipedia.com revised)

Wisdom: The Sum of Time and Patience

Wisdom treads the desert sands,

embraced by the robes of many years,

learning, as he slowly carves his way through life.

In The Alchemist, Paulo Coehlo tries to tell people about wisdom and how it takes time to gain enough to move on to your destiny. A person can't just know everything all at once, knowledge comes with experience and experience comes with time. Everyday in your life, you will learn something new that may be insignificant or change your life, you will still learn them. Anything and everything you will learn in life will bring you closer to your destiny, even if it is the least expected. With the knowledge you learn, you will be able to achieve your destiny. Coehlo also tells us that the journey we will make for this knowledge, will be hard. Though, in The Alchemist, Coehlo uses the main charcter Santiago to show us that at the end of the road, we find the reason we took that particular path in the first place, and rest assured that it was worth it. We are the main characters in our own story of life and the road to the end will be long and hard but well worth the wait and effort.

Strength: Pulling Myself Through Life

Strength comes in different forms; Physical and Emotional. In my opinion, the emotional strength carries the heavier burden. Over the course of my life, I have gone through hard times and truths that would thrust me down, and make me feel depressed. "Life is pain, highness. Whoever says differently is selling something." ~The Princess Bride I can try to forget the things I hear but no matter what I do, I will always know them. "Once you know something, you can never un-know it." ~unknown. The driving force that keeps me positive and picks me back up? It is the knowledge that the bad experiences that truly define the good in life. When people leave me out of groups, it only builds the joy for when I am accepted. When the good times come along, I realize that there is more in life than hate and bad feelings. In my grade seven year, strength hit me with a big sucker punch to the face. On my facebook account, another girl called my terrible names and told me I was no good but I knew better. I told myself that I should pay these comments no mind, so I did, and in the end I realized that she only called me those things because others were hurting her. I picked myself back up and brushed myself off ready to help her back on her feet. I knew that I had found the good in the bad. In that knowledge, I can rise back up from the ground and resume my position. The emotional strength that I have, has been building up for many years. It helps haul me back up when I am struck down and keeps me going through the storm I call life. My destiny is to serve my country and I will need not only family and peer support, but moral strength.

“And I know the Soul of The World, because we have talked a great length to each other during this endless trip through the universe.” (Coelho 142)

Santiago learns how to speak the Language of the Universe and understand the Soul of the World, but not without having faced hardships. In The Alchemist, a boy Santiago bravely departs from his life as a shepherd in search of something that will add meaning to his life. Santiago desires to travel farther than the fields of Andalusia and sets off not knowing what will come ahead. Having dreamt of treasure at the Great Pyramids of Egypt, Santiago sets off in search of his Destiny. Along the way, Santiago befriends remarkable people that change his life. Each person supports and helps Santiago through the tough situations and new experiences he faces. Overcoming obstacles, discovering there is more to himself than he thought and adapting to new people places and things, Santiago struggles to uncover his destiny. Santiago achieves his destiny through his open mindedness, determination and bravery.

Santiago had to be open to new things for him to progress on his journey. When he arrived in Tangier, Santiago only knew Spanish, whereas the local language was Arabic. Had Santiago not learned Arabic, his journey would have come to a halt. The Crystal merchant that Santiago had worked for, spoke only Arabic. Santiago had to learn the language to work, work to make money and have money to continue on his quest for Destiny. Santiago had to be open to new people as well, because the people he would meet on his journey would do him great good. At first, Santiago didn’t really wish to speak much with the Englishman he had met in the Caravan, until he found they had something in common. “The boy was suddenly happy to be there at the warehouse.” (Coelho 66) The Languages Santiago knew carried past his career as a Crystal Merchants assistant and into the Caravan. In Spanish, Santiago could speak with the Englishman and learn of his journey toward his destiny. The Englishman taught Santiago of Alchemy and his quest to find the Alchemist and Santiago taught the Englishman to be observant during their time in the Caravan. When they arrived at Al Faiyum, Santiago helped the Englishman find the Alchemist by speaking to people of the oasis in Arabic. When found,
the Alchemist took to Santiago and supported and helped him better his ability to communicate with the Soul of The World. Santiago would never have been able to do any of these things with out first learning Arabic, for which he had to be open. Learning new languages, new things about the world and new choices, Santiago prepared himself for each new step toward his destiny by being open, no matter how hard it would be.

Determined to follow his quest for destiny through to its’ conclusion, Santiago pressed on. After being robbed at the Tangier market, Santiago lost the urge to fight for his destiny and decided to earn money and buy more sheep, continuing his life as a shepherd. Santiago worked in a Crystal Shop to earn the money. Santiago was and had always wanted to make an impact in his life, so when the time came, he was determined to follow through. “Don’t forget that everything you deal with is only one thing and nothing else. And don’t forget the language of the omens. And above all, don’t forget to follow your Destiny through to its’ conclusion.” (Coelho 29) When the long months of working in the Crystal Merchants’ shop were over and enough money had been earned, Santiago walked down the hill the shop was built on. He remembered his sheep and how they were friends and he thought about how the Desert wasn’t such a friend to him. He thought of how his treasure was out there and that he could always return to sheep. After contemplating the decisions, Santiago joined the Al Faiyum Caravan. While at the Oasis, as Santiago watched the sky, he noticed two hawks in the sky and read their pattern, having a vision. He had seen a vision of a group of soldiers on their way to attack the oasis. Determined to do something, Santiago told the Council of the attack, preparing them for an ambush, saving many lives. To carry through to find his destiny, Santiago was determined to get through the tough times and continue on his journey.

With bravery, Santiago had to overcome the trials the road held and conquer his realized fears to find his true destiny. After his meeting with the Oasis Council, to tell them of the attack he had seen, Santiago left the tent only to be thrown down by a mysterious masked man astride a white horse, wielding a scimitar. ‘“Who dares to read the flight of the hawks?”...”It is I who dared to do so.” And Santiago lowered his head to receive a blow from the sword. “Many lives will be saved because I was able to see through to the Soul of The World”’ (Coelho 105) Santiago had to face this man, show him he had no fear of him. As a result of his bravery toward the stranger, Santiago was allowed to live and was called to meet the strange man the next day, unbeknownst to Santiago that he had just met the Alchemist. The Alchemist told Santiago that he must leave what he cared about behind him and move on to achieve his destiny. Though hesitant, Santiago gathered his courage and went off into the desert to find what the last one plus years had been about. Desert robbers later attacked Santiago after he had parted ways with the Alchemist. When asked what he was doing, Santiago said searching for treasure but was not believed. He was told by one of the robbers about his own dream of treasure and where it was and how he never followed it, before leaving him to die. Finally, after the incident and long journey, Santiago arrived back at square one, under the old Sycamore tree where he had started his journey. Santiago found the treasure and new what he had to do and he headed back to the Oasis. Santiagos’ courage pulled him through the obstacles that stood in his way and cleared the path to achieving his destiny.

Bravely leaving his home, Santiago open-mindedly took in new experiences and skills, determined to find his destiny. It was important for Santiago to achieve his destiny because it was the only way he could live a happy life. After being ignored long enough, the omens that help you begin to fade away to nothing and leave you knowing you could have followed them. Santiago Achieved his destiny by not letting anything stand in his way, plowing through the obstacles and easing into the exotic, ready to keep on following the path to his destiny.

Open Your Eyes and Welcome The Differences.

I believe in acceptance, taking risks and opening up to differences.

Matt Hardings’ essay, “Connecting to a Global Tribe”, is very self-explanatory. When Matt says, “My brain was designed to inhabit a fairly small social network of maybe a few dozen other primates”, I find that true for everybody. We all know people in our own communities, ‘tribes’ as Matt calls them, as the people we have grown up to know. We know a small group of people and for most people, they only know that small group. Matt Harding traveled all over the world to see all different communities of people and thus broadened his community of people. Traveling all over the world to see different sites, hear different sounds and meeting new people. By seeing and experiencing new things, anyones’ view of the world and of people can become broader and I think that Matt Harding has put the proof to the theory with his amazing video.

The Extraordinary in the Ordinary

Wishes, Hopes, Dreams and Inspiration are found with everyone. All people, no matter what nationality, belief system or life style, have them. Most people look the other way though. People of the modern world look more on people who are beautiful, handsome, famous and/or rich. In fact, we have looked onto things like that so much, that the true talent is hidden. Susan Boyle is a 47 year old woman living in the UK. She isn’t beautiful, she isn’t rich and to some people she is just plain old ordinary.

When she first stepped out onto the stage on the show ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, you could tell that everybody who looked at her had great doubt that she was going to get anywhere. By there facial expressions and remarks, anybody could tell that the audience didn’t like her. To everybody’s surprise though, she belted it out and wowed everyone. She put real means to the term ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’ It all depends on your point of view. Susan was judged by her appearance and clothing. Susan Boyle had a dream to be like the singer who inspired her to start singing, Elaine Paige. She held onto her dream of becoming a singer since she was 12 years old and had a strong enough hope to be a professional.

The same treatment was given to Paul Potts a few years earlier. He wasn’t handsome or muscular but there was talent. He had a dream of becoming a professional Opera singer but when he made it known on the stage of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ he too was ridiculed. When he sang, though, his talent blasted. It was a true surprise to every one. Paul knew that he was born to do Opera and held fast to that dream until he was able to show it. Like in the Langston Hughes poem, it says ‘Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.’ What if Paul let go of his dream and just remained doing his job? There would be no excitement as there was being able to show he had talent to the world.

Millions of people want to see people like Susan Boyle and Paul Potts for two reasons, they either hear it from there friends that these people are really good and/or they want to see proof of this kind of talent coming from this ‘type’ of person. A first impression of either of them and you may think they have no talents and are weird for trying something they “obviously” can’t do. People all over have become so attached to the ‘first sight= impression’ method that we turn down people we think lowly of when they are truly wonderful people to be around. I do believe that you can find the extraordinary in the ordinary.

I chose the picture shown above because, to me, it represents opinion based on our 'eye' view and how we look at things. Artwork by: Teesha Moore

I chose the image of a key because it represents the lost key mentioned in passage four.
The key is a close friendship and the closer you get to the key, the more treasure you will find.
Photo found at: spasmicallyperfect.wordpress.com

I am an Eagle
Soaring over the land of the free,
My home of the brave.
After a long departure
Anxious to land and see my family

I am a needle and thread.
I help mend people when they are torn
though, I break, too

I am a paintbrush.
I paint words that are an art.
Fantasy and Reality
My creations are unique

I am a treasure chest
Full of secrets
The key lies tucked away
Whilst the treasure lies
waiting to be discovered.

I am a little child,
on the inside.
A young adult on the outside.
Stuck between two worlds altogether
as they slowly merge.

Fox

The Bitter in the Sweet

Disappointment flowed through Magpie as she rode on Dog's back. Though she had become Dog's blind eye and Dog had become her burnt wing, Magpie found it wasn't enough for her. After the accident of the burning of her wing, Magpie felt she was useless but Dog helped her realize she wasn't and helped her try to feel like she could fly. All Dog ever did for Magpie was for the bond that they had shared and as they united, Magpie felt more and more like her old self, until Fox made his arrival. The thing about Fox, that I have figured out, is that he doesn't take heed to anyone but who he wants to strike at. He leads Magpie to her arrogance by tempting her with his speed and her lust to fly once again and after proving his ability of momentum was superior to Dog's. Magpie threw her dislike for Fox away and willingly strode down the path of temptation.

If one looks at the bond between Fox and Magpie, they would know that she was throwing herself straight into the hungry mouth of danger but because of her yearning for flight, Magpie didn't care. The temptation was too great and the result seemed too promising yet after her adventure on the back of Fox a feeling of remorse, grasped her in it's claws and consumed her.

What Do Words Have To Say?

Imagination

The Power beyond worlds

“A book should be an ice-axe that breaks the frozen sea within us.” -Franz Kafka

This quote is a metaphor which states the bond between books and imagination. “Ice-axe”, The “ice” part makes suggests that what ever is used to break it has to be very sturdy because if you think about it, ice can become really thick and durable, adding that to “axe” makes me think of really strong, powerful weapons. Therefore, creating an impression that we are trapped within our minds, waiting for a creative idea to happen upon us, being the tool to set ourselves free to roam the never ending league of thoughts and beliefs. “Frozen seas within us” is an example, "Frozen" is paralyzing, to be unable to think about or know anything other than what you've been told.

"Frozen" conceals secrets, traps by freezing over and enclosing or falling and entombing something or someone inside. "Seas", for some people are very, very frightening and confusing, they hold many secrets that we only know about through teachings, offers of new things that sound like the impossible may suddenly become reality to an open mind. "Within us" makes me think of the soul. Everyone's souls have fears and all of us cache our most precious thoughts, feelings and desires from one another in fear of criticism, unaware that creativity is nothing without it. These suggestions give me the approach that we are all held in our conscience by the lack of fictional and inventive thoughts. In Basics, what I'm trying to say is that facts are very important but creativity is the point where you hold control in what is. All in all I can explain just what I apprehend when I hear that quote by F. Kafka “Books and literature are the strong weapon that free you from your concealed self.”

The idea of liberating or freeing comes in for people who stick with the facts and only the facts. It can seem like they are captivated in the world of strict, proven information. That’s why fiction can open new doors and awaken the mind to new places and creatures only to be found in the mind. So my shortened term “Books liberate imagination.” can explain what the above quote means to me.

My ice axe is very dear to me. The Chronicles of Narnia are the books that shatter my thick ice as if it were a thin sheet of glass. Narnia is the world where impossible things burst their way into reality and make you stay up all night reading. The author, C. S. Lewis, is a wonderful writer that can turn the most precious biblical stories into page-turners. For me that thought is important because I am a Christian and having the beautiful religion I live by put into a more discreet form is heart warming. When put into less familiar versions biblical adventures can quietly sneak it’s way into the imagination of mind imprisoned people world wide and maybe be the flare that starts their curiosity about the Christian religion . I also enjoy how C. S. Lewis uses Aslan, the Lion as a representation of God. Our god has many names and an example of one is The Lion of Judah. Our God is known to be demanding and “untamed” as Aslan is described. I adore the fact that C. S. Lewis uses fictional characters and supernatural happenings as representations of stories from the Bible.

You Have Got To Love The Baseball Glove

My Hand Held Pleasure

Baseball, the cheer of the crowd, the crack of the bat, the smell of fresh snacks being sold in the stands. Ah, baseball is my absolute favorite competitive sport because there are many pieces of equipment in this game that are used to make it a little less painful. Soccer has shin pads but they do squat to protect you from getting stomped on by cleat spikes, climbing has helmets and support ropes but don't even get me started on how much pain you receive when you're being let down. Batting helmets, bats, bases, balls, cleats, uniforms, and many other “tools” play their part in the world of baseball. My personal favorite is the glove.

I started taking an interest in the sport when I was around six and a half. Every year, when we would go to visit our relatives, I would always tag along and watch my cousins play Middle league baseball. During their practice I would throw the ball around with the team rapidly, having the ball snap in my hand and whiz out once more with a pitch. My hand would be sore afterward though.

On my seventh birthday, when my relatives came to visit us, my uncle took me to the store to let me get a gift with my allowance and I knew exactly what I wanted. Second row down, third one to the left, the baseball mitt I had been coveting for a long time. I used to rush to the sports section to check if it was there, whenever we went shopping in that store. I had been waiting for the day that I could make enough money to buy that comfy hand piece. I scurried over to the stand and picked it up, sliding onto my hand. It was a bit big, but that was exactly what I wanted, over time I could grow into it.

When we got home, I darted to the backyard and snatched up the nearest ball lying on the ground. I was anxious as ever to try out my new glove and I didn’t want to waste any time doing it. My uncle and cousins were pleased that I had taken an interest in baseball, but didn’t want to rush me. They showed me the warm ups for throwing and catching mostly. By the time they had finished my hand was very sore, but not as sore as it would’ve been had I not used my mitt. I broke that glove in with a little work and I have had it for a good five years now. My hand has gotten a wee bit big for it, though, so now I use a different one and I have passed my glove onto my sister, who when she outgrows it, will give it to my little brother, when he can fit into it. I still try to use the glove as a token of confidence whenever I am thrown challenges with my newer one, cause I know that if I could brake in that useful, little glove, I could do the same for this one.

Hi, This is me!

Hello peoples of the world!! I am Dragon-Ambassador and, as you can tell, I am obsessed with dragons. I am an artiste, love traveling and I'm not someone you would want to insult unless you like pain. I'm a rough 'n tumble kind of person and I love to read. (They go together, no?) When I'm faced with a challenge my favorite reply is "Try me!" and I make friends easily. I'm a creative writer and use my brain to concoct good passages that are interesting for my audience. (Makes you want to read my stuff more, huh?) Speaking of audiences, I love to act. Drama is one of my top favorite hobbies next to singing and dancing.

The stage is my platform of fun and joy, so if you see me up there sometimes, don't be surprised. Life has offered me many great pleasures and I use them all the time. Since I am feeling generous today I will treat your mind to a quote from the famous me. "Who I am goes to who I once was. Life throws us good things and life throws us bad things, but we ourselves have the power to remember and praise the memories we want. In that knowledge, don't expect a bleak future when you can create a better world for not only you but for others. Live out your life freely and blissfully and use it wisely, you only get one shot at it."