Fahrenheit 451 Romanticism- Sense of Darkness and sensitivity

Romanticism is composed of many different aspects of human thought and their nature along with the physical beings in the world and the habitat or living conditions that they live in.  Among these aspects are the ideas of darkness and sensitivity represented by the characters in a Romanticism piece.  This particular portion of Romanticism can be represented in the character's emotions or could be represented physically.  Throughout Fahrenheit 451, Montage portrays the emotional sense of darkness and sensitivity.

Montage displays darkness and sensitivity in his thoughts and actions throughout Fahrenheit 451.   He is consumed with darkness for many years of his life and only seeks to destroy any form of knowledge. This is how he was raised to think and act and his views do not change easily.  Once he begins to be exposed to the knowledge that had previously been forbidden to him, he experiences a sense of enlightenment and curiosity that is continually growing stronger, but realizes that this knowledge is not supposed to be known.  This causes him to become very sensitive and cautious whenever his peers mention the book burning or books in general, which is where he obtained the knowledge and understanding previously mentioned.  The sense of darkness continues to decrease as he falls in love with books and his curiosity strengthens.  As the sense of darkness and ignorance decreases, the sense of sensitivity towards the treatment of others that also have the same desire to learn more increases drastically.  As he sees others being treated unkindly because of the same curiosity, he becomes very cautious in his actions and increasingly sensitive to the way he treats others with the same desire to learn as he had.  This sense of darkness and sensitivity ruled his life and effected every one of his actions until he became associated with a group of men that share the same passion of learning that he possessed.  

Fahrenheit 451 Romanticism- Satisfaction of Desire

Romanticism is composed of many different aspects, some of which are more apparent than others.  One of the many elements of Romanticism that is apparent in many of the pieces of literature during the Romanticism era is character's satisfaction of desire.  This is an important aspect of Romanticism because it s often times what drives the main character's actions and greatly affects the outcome of the story.  The character's satisfaction of desire in a Romanticism story is not always evident at first, but by the end of the story, the main character has achieved what he desired.  This aspect of Romanticism is shown in Fahrenheit 451 by Montage and his actions. 

In Fahrenheit 451, Montage lives in a community where books are not allowed.  This restriction on books results in a restriction on knowledge.  Lacking the knowledge that people previously held, he was curious when he began to read the books that he was supposed to be burning.  This is  begins to develop a longing for knowledge and a desire to know more about the world than just what he has been allowed to know.  The problem with having this particular desire during this time was that knowing to much resulted in being imprisoned or killed.  He was not satisfied with the amount of knowledge he held and wanted more.  This drove him to steal more and more books until he had at least twenty.  He is hunted by the law enforcers and is forced to run from his community.  He encounters a group of men similar to him in that they search for knowledge and try to spread the idea that knowledge is good and is a part of the culture.  His desire is satisfied when he joins this group of men to help others come to know the beauty of knowledge and books and how important they are to how a community develops over time.  

Fahrenheit 451 Romanticism- Characters Set Apart from Society

Fahrenheit 451 displays numerous characteristics of Romanticism throughout the book.  One of the major aspects of Romanticism that is used to describe the main character, Montage, is the idea that he is set apart from the society.  This is important in Romanticism because it allows the author to incorporate the other characteristics of Romanticism, such as the fantasy or supernatural foreshadowing aspects, without having interference from other characters not important to the story.  This is an aspect of Romanticism that is constantly used throughout Fahrenheit 451.

Montage is not a well loved person in his community.  He burns books for a living along with around 5 other men.  They are his only associates until he meets his neighbor, Clarisse.  He begins to enjoy her company and learns a significant amount about himself as a person and his motives in life.  He does not speak to any other people than those in his family or his co-workers with the exception of Clarisse.  Nobody likes being around him because by destroying books, he destroys a part of the culture.  Books are very important to all cultures because they carry the history and interests of the people that wrote them.  As he realizes this, he becomes horrified in his actions and becomes obsessed with reading.  This obsession leads him to a small group of men that all share the same love of books and reading that he does.  These men are all in hiding because they were once hunted like he was because they learned to treasure the stories and history that came from books.  From that point on, he remained in the wilderness traveling with this small group of men and forgetting about all other people in his previous life.  Even before he was a member of the small group, he was set apart in the society and rarely spoke to people that he was not directly involved with.  He remained set apart from the common people throughout the entire story.

Fahrenheit 451 Romanticism- Emotions

Fahrenheit 451 displays the characteristics of Romanticism, but especially focuses on the emotions of the characters.  The emotions of a person play a significant role in the entire aspect of Romanticism.  The emotions are used to further deepen a story by adding a personal connection to a particular character.  This allows the reader to further visualize the story being told and allows him to relate to what the character is going through.  The emotions of a character also help to tell the actual story.  By using the emotions of a particular character, the author can explain why they have these emotions and use them to further enhance a particular argument or view being made in the story.  The emotions of the characters help to story develop and show how the characters change throughout the course of the story.

In Fahrenheit 45, the emotions of the character are immediately told.  From page 1 on throughout the book, the reader has access to the character's thoughts and emotions.   This shows how he feels about what is going on in his life at the time and how he plans on living his life.  For example, when he thinks about burning the books, he thinks about the fire and the power he get from it.  He does not care about effects of his actions, only about the amount of power he holds over others.  These emotions change and develop as the story is told.  These changes show the development of the character and how his life has evolved.  Showing how his emotions changed as he was introduced to new characters and experiences allows the readers to connect with him and further understand his situation.  This is a major Romanticism trait that the entire story is based off of.  The emotions of the characters in the book drive the story and affect the outcome.

Of Mice and Men- Utopian Society

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck shows the Rationalists' beliefs in a Utopian Society.  The idea that they could create a Utopian society was a major belief during this time period that many people strove to achieve. The Utopian society that people wanted to create would be a perfect place for everyone, where there would be no hungry, dying, or sick people would be what some people wanted to see in a Utopian society.  Others may just want to see everyone happy, and themselves living with the people that they love, doing exactly what they wanted to do.  The idea of a Utopian society would change depending on what people wanted in life.  In Of Mice and Men, the idea of a Utopian society was based purely off of what the main characters dreamed of.

In Of Mice and Men, George and Lennie have created their dream life.  They dream of a farm where they would have plenty of money, their own cattle and chickens, and plenty of rabbits for Lennie.  This dream is what they would want in their own Utopian society.  This Utopian society was what motivated them to keep going and not give up on each other and themselves.  They believed that this was a dream that could be accomplished if they did not give up and kept working towards that life.  This Utopian society was built off two other major Rationalist beliefs.  The belief that if they work hard, they will be rewarded, and the belief that they had the freedom and ability to move around socially support the Utopian society.  George and Lennie believed that if they worked hard, the would be able to move up socially, and therefor reach their Utopian society.

Of Mice and Men- hard work

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is an example of hard work.  Hard work is one of the major beliefs during the Rationalism time period.  Hard work was seen as a very important aspect of a person's daily life.  The people believed that the hard work of a person would result in them being rewarded later on in their life, or in their life after death. This is a very strong belief that kept many people working and not giving up.  It is especially important in Of Mice and Men because it is one of the main beliefs that keeps the characters going and gives them hope.  Hard work is shown numerous times throughout the book.

In Of Mice and Men, hard work is a part of the characters' daily lives.  The main characters, George and Lennie, have to work on a farm so that they can be payed, and one day buy their own farm.  The work that they do on the farm along with all the other characters is an example of hard work.  The belief that they would be reward later on in their lives was shown through their goals and dreams.  Lennie and George dreamed of working hard enough to get enough money to buy their own farm.  This shows that they believed that all their hard work would pay off in the end.  They did not think that this was an unreachable goal, but a goal that would be given to them as a reward of all their hard work.  George and Lennie were not the only ones that believed that they would one day be rewarded.  The other workers on the farm different goals and dreams, but the same idea kept them working, because they realized that they would be rewarded for all their hard work at the end of their lives.

Of Mice and Men- Human Perfectibility

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is an example of Human Perfectibility.  Human Perfectibility is one of the major beliefs during the Rationalism time period.  Human Perfectibility is a belief in social mobility, and the freedom every person has to work to change their current social position. Human Perfectibility was very important to the Rationalists thinkers because it gave everyone in the community, regardless of class, equal playing ground in which they would be able to maneuver freely between different social classes.  The Rationalists believed that a person could improve his situation of birth, economy, society, religion, which meant that every person had the opportunity to achieve greatness. This is belief is shown numerous times throughout Of Mice and Men.

Human Perfectibility is portrayed through the characters throughout the entire book.  One example of this is in the story that George constantly tells to Lennie about their future life together on their own ranch.  George tells Lennie how one day, they will have enough money to buy their own ranch, raise their own cattle and chicken, and Lennie can raise his own rabbits.  This dream the George and Lennie share show the belief that they will be able to get out of their current state working for other farmers and into a better life position in which they will have their own farm and be able to live off the land themselves.  The belief in Human Perfectibility is also shown through the acceptance of this dream by Candy.  When George and Lennie tell him about their dream and how they plan on achieving it, Candy instantly jumps on the idea and agrees to participate.  The fact that he was not hesitant to agree or thought that it was an impossible hope show that social mobility was a common occurrence during this time, and was not seen as impossible.

What Represents Me

Aimee Claire Whitehurst

August 29, 2013

“What Represents Me”

Block 2

What Represents Me

            Throughout life, there are many people we meet, places we go, and activities we do that influence us.  Some are just a small part of our daily lives, and often we don’t know how important they are until we stop and think about it. Many are taken for granted and rarely thought about.  Yet some of these people, places, and activities have a big influence on our lives and the way we grow as people. There are many small, but precious parts of my life that have shaped me in some way, including my running shoe charm, the color green, and a ribbon.  Each of these has somehow affected the way I have developed as a person and how I view the world today. 

            My running shoe charm is a very small trinket that I wear around my neck on a chain.  It is silver and fits perfectly in the V-neck of my school jumper, and it is simple enough that it is a nice accessory for most of the clothes that I wear.   I wear it every day.

            But the charm is more than just a pretty piece of jewelry that I wear around my neck.  It is a constant reminder to me to always go the extra mile in all that I do.  My charm is special to me because it was given to me by my aunt right after I ran in the state track meet in ninth grade.  It had been my goal to make it to State in the mile, and I was excited that I had accomplished my goal.  Running has been a big part of my life since I started running cross country in 6^th grade on a whim, and I haven’t stopped since.  Every year since that first practice, I have been a part of the Episcopal cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams.   Each year, I have worked harder and harder and strived to be a better runner.  Each year, I have seen my performance improve, and I know that I have become a better runner.  But what I have learned from running is far more than just how to be a good runner.  One of the most important lessons I have learned from running is that hard work pays off.  A runner must train constantly to get better.  A runner must sweat and push to the limits every day to improve, and a runner must be able to run through the pain and keep going even when it hurts.   A runner must also know when it is time to rest and rejuvenate.  In a way, running is a metaphor for life.  Just like in running, a good work ethic is an important part of a person’s character.  A person that works hard and puts in lots of effort will always be more successful than one who doesn’t try.  In school, those that work the hardest are usually more successful than those who are naturally smart but put forth no effort.  In the adult world, the person that works the hardest will usually get the job.  Those that work the hardest are the most successful.  From running, I have also learned that a spirit of determination will take a person far.  In a meet, even the person that has trained well must have this spirit of determination to “pick off” people in the race and pass other runners one by one.  A runner must have the mental stamina and confidence to keep going.  In a race, the person that wins is the person who is willing to give it 100% even when there is no more to give. 

            Going the extra mile in my life as a runner means working harder, running faster, and doing more than my competitors.  It means putting one foot in front of the other in a race even when I feel like I can’t take another step.  It means having a kick and sprinting at the end of a race even when my body says to stop.  Going the extra mile in my life as a high school student means working ahead, doing my best on my homework every night instead of doing it just to get it done, and studying more so that I can make an A.  It means staying up a little later sometimes to finish an assignment, but going to be early when I need to be clear thinking for a test.  My charm is a reminder to me of what I need to do to be great.  I can feel the charm on my neck and know that anyone can be a good, but only those that are willing to go the extra mile will be great.

Green is a beautiful secondary color that is a mixture of blue and yellow.  It is found throughout nature, in healthy vegetables that we eat, and in beautiful jewels. When I think of green, I think of spring, new growth, rolling in the grass, climbing trees, and Christmas.  Green always makes me feel peaceful, calm, and relaxed.

The color green also has a deeper, more special meaning for me.  Green reminds me of my grandfather, Bobo, because it was his favorite color.  He once told his mother that green must be God’s favorite color since He made the best parts of nature green. He always chose the color green when playing board games, picking out paint colors, and often in choosing clothes.  It is very appropriate that green was Bobo’s favorite color because of the lessons he taught me and because green represents balance and life.   Bobo was a very special person in my life.  He and I were closer than most grandfathers and granddaughters, and I always felt like he was more of a father to me than a grandfather.  He taught me many lessons about life, and I remember them all.  Some of the lessons he made a point to teach me, but some of them I learned by watching him.  Bobo taught me to value a person for what they are like on the inside, not the color of their skin or the possessions that they have.  He was always kind to every one, and his nature was very gentle.  It is very fitting that green was his favorite color because the human eye can perceive more shades of green than any other color, just like my grandfather could see more in people than most others.  I have always tried to know people for what they are on the inside, instead of what I see on the outside.  Green is also a symbol of life, and this also reminds me of my grandfather and another important lesson he taught me.  Bobo was a great and brilliant man who was always helpful to people, especially his daughters and his grandchildren.  He suffered a stroke when I was in second grade, and he was unable to walk, talk, or care for himself.  For someone who had been such a strong person that loved life, it was terrible to be so helpless.  Many people would have given up, but Bobo was so determined to get his life back.  He spent many hours in physical therapy and speech therapy.  It was physically and emotionally painful for him, and difficult for all of us to watch.  But we gradually began to see change.  We began to understand words he said.  His arms began to move and he learned to hold a fork and bring it to his mouth.  And finally he started learning to walk.  I will never forget my mom’s birthday when Bobo walked across the room for her.  There was not a dry eye in my family.  Bobo was determined to live his life.  It seems very fitting that the color green, that represents life, was his favorite color.

My grandfather died three and a half years ago.  I was lying in his bed by his side when he went to heaven.  Every year on his birthday, we have a party for him at the cemetery.  All of my family goes: my grandmother, my mom, step-father, and my four siblings, and my aunt, uncle, and two cousins.  At the end of the picnic, we always release green balloons to the sky.  We watch them until we can’t see them anymore, and then we know they have reached him in heaven. 

             A ribbon is a long piece of colored cloth that is used to bind objects together.  I wear a ribbon in my hair every day.  I choose a color that matches whatever I am wearing.  If I am wearing my school uniform, I choose a color that suits my mood or the weather.  I may wear red, yellow, hot pink, or polka dots for a day that I’m especially energetic, green on a day that I’m calm, or blue for a rainy day.  If I have a cross country  meet, I may wear blue or gold.  The ribbon completes my attire for the day and makes a statement, especially when I’m wearing a uniform.

            My ribbons are also a symbol of the most special relationship in my life.  My mother and I have a unique bond that is stronger than most mother-daughter relationships.  The ribbons in my hair represent that bond.  Every single morning of my life, my mom fixes my hair. We have had this routine since I was a little girl. She always starts by brushing my hair, then she pulls it back and ties it in a ribbon. It’s a quick moment in the day, but it helps get the day off to a good start.  Like most mothers, my mom cooks my meals, buys my clothes, brings me to school, and takes care of me when I’m sick.  But my relationship with my mom is different than other mothers and daughters.  My mom and I have been through lots together.  My parents divorced when I was five, and my mom has been both mother and father to me.  I know that to most people, divorce is terrible, but for me, my parents’ divorce has given me a unique and special bond with my mother that others don’t have.  I think this is because we both needed each other so much and because we have always been there for each other.  She has told me stories, taught me values, and passed on family traditions that have become important to me.  She helps me whenever I need it, but she has also taught me to be independent.  I have learned a lot from just watching her.  She works very hard as a mother and wife and teacher, and I have learned a good work ethic.  She is selfless and always puts her family first.  From that, I have learned that nothing is as important as my family.  She always makes the right choices, even when they are difficult choices and are not very popular.  I have learned not to ever take the easy way out if it isn’t right.  My mom tells me that I have helped her too, and not just by doing chores around the house.  She knows that she can count on me to do anything, and she knows that all will be done just the way she likes.  She says that I have helped her by making her need to be stronger than she had ever had to be before.  She says that I give her more joy in her life than is imaginable.  She says that she is so proud of the person I have become.  I know that she loves me “more than the whole, wide world,” and I love her just as much.

            Now I am 15 years old, and I’m very capable of doing my own hair, but I don’t.  It gives my mother so much pleasure each morning.  And for me, having my mom fix my hair is one small moment where I get to be a little girl again.  The ribbon is a tie that binds us together. 

            The significant pieces of life come in many different shapes and forms.  Some of the simplest parts are some of the most meaningful ones.  My charm, the color green, and a ribbon all tell about me, the way I have grown up, and what is important to me.  None of them are of great value to most people, but they speak to the person that I am.  I try to use them as a guide to the person that I want to be and as a reminder of how I can get there. 

Symbols are the imaginative signposts of life.

                                                                        Margot Asquith

Sources

http://www.polk-fl.net/staff/teachers/documents/laAgeofEnlightenmentorAgeofReason.pdf

http://www.online-literature.com/periods/enlightenment.php

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/492034/rationalism

What Represents Me Draft

What Represents Me

            Throughout life, there are many people we meet, places we go, and things we do that influence us.  Some are people and things that we come across daily.  Very rarely does a person stop and think about how special these things are to them.  Many objects in life people take for granted everyday.  People do not comprehend how treasurable many daily parts of life are, and how they have shaped how individuals have grown as people.  When you pause, take a breath, and think about these things, you may realize just how special they are.  There are many small, but precious things in my life that have shaped me, including my running shoe charm, the color green, my faith, and a ribbon.  Each of these things has somehow affected the way I have developed as a person and how I view the world today. 

            That view of the world can also extend to my running shoe charm.  My running shoe charm is a very small charm that I wear around my neck on a chain.  It never comes off.  I wear it absolutely everywhere unless I am required to take it off, like in a meet.  It is special to me because it was given to me by my aunt right after I ran in the state track meet this past year.  It fully represents my love for running.  I started running Cross Country in 6^th grade off of a whim, and I haven’t stopped since!  Every year since that first practice, I have been a part of the Episcopal Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor track teams.  I have run 196.72 miles since summer started.  I ran 100 of those just in the month of July.  So far, all of my hard work has paid off.  I have obtained a lot from working hard in my running.  I have learned many things that cannot be taught, but have to be experienced. 

            My running shoe charm is more than just a pretty piece of jewelry that I wear around my neck.  To me, it represents the things that running has taught me and is a constant reminder to live by what I have learned.  Running is like life.  Every aspect of running can be transcribed into different parts of your life.  The training and work that you put forth can develop your mind to never give up, and to always go the extra mile.  This can be used in school, work, faith, friendship, and many other things.  An old saying that I like that talks about going the extra mil is the 212 degrees saying.

At 211 degrees, water is hot.

At 212 degrees, water boils.

And with boiling water comes steam,

And with steam, you can power a train.

One extra degree makes all the difference.

This shows how going the extra mile makes all the difference in the world.  In a race, the stronger of the two runners will win.  This can be applied to everything in life.  The person who works the hardest will have the best results.  The person who does things the right way and doesn’t take shortcuts will eventually find success in everything that they do.  They learn to work hard in everything.  Running the extra mile also means to do what’s right when no one is watching.  That means going out a running everyday even if the coach isn’t there to make sure you do it right.  It means doing extra homework or studying to make a better grade in a class.  Going the extra mile is not an easy thing to do, but it will always pay off in the long run. 

Yet each piece represents another side of me, and just the same as my running shoe charm represents hard work and going the extra mile, the color green represents the love of life and what true determination looks like.  The color green is everywhere people go.  It is all around outside in nature, it is on clothes, on bags, on books, it is on food, it is on candy wrappers.  The color green is the color that the human eye can perceive the most shades of, and therefor is seen the most everywhere. It is the most calming color and the color that is most used in areas of relaxation and peace.  It symbolized health, balance, nature, and most importantly, life.  To me, it symbolizes my grandfather, Bobo.  He passed away 4 years ago, and his favorite color was green.  It was green from the first moment that I can remember.  Now that he is gone, we always go to the cemetery to see him, especially on special occasions.  The most special occasion of all that we go visit him for is his birthday.  Every year on April 3, my entire family goes to the cemetery and we release green balloons to the sky and watch them until we can’t see them anymore.  Once we cannot see them, we know that he got them in heaven.  My family always spends the entire afternoon there on his birthday.  We have a picnic and some cake, we play tag, and we just sit and relax.  The color green represents my grandfather, the things that he taught me, and the treasured memories that I have of him. 

            The color green symbolizes life, and how special the people that we love are to us.  When my grandfather died, it taught me two very important lessons that you can only relate to if you personally experience them.  The first and most important thing that I learned is to treasure the small moments, because one day, they might turn out to be big moments.  Towards the last few days of Bobo’s life, he was unable to see well, feed himself, get out of bed, or do all the little things that most people do everyday.  I would sit by him and feed him little bits of peaches while all the other kids in my family went to the back and read a book or watched TV.  I remember wanting to go and play with them too, but instead I sat by him and fed him.  I have never regretted that decision. The time I spent with him is some of the best moments that I ever spent with my grandfather.  The memories that I have of doing that are ones that nobody else in my family has.  These memories are some of the most valuable memories that I have and I have never regretted a single small thing that I ever did with Bobo. 

The second thing that I learned was that the people you love are never truly gone until you forget them and the things that they taught you.  They will always live on in the hearts of the people that cared for them.  I still remember my grandfather today.  I remember the little things that he taught me, like not to eat while laying up side down on the couch, or eating right by the computer.  He taught me more than just little things.  He showed me how to work hard through his every day actions, like using holding his own fork and knife, or walking.  One year for my mom’s birthday, he walked across the room for her.  It made everyone cry.  Doing little things like that showed how hard he worked and how true determination is working hard to achieve your goals, even the little ones, which is a lesson that he taught me that has stuck with me to this day. 

            Faith is something that everyone learns about at a young age.  Many learn first about the birth of Jesus and Noah’s Arc.  As they get older, they learn more and more about their religion and the history of it.  Religion can be a very central part of a person’s choices and personality.  In my family, it plays a significant role in our Sunday lives.  Every Sunday morning, we all go to church together.  It is a time of peace and a break from doing homework.  I usually like going to church.  Part of the reason that I love Christmas break is because of the Christmas Eve church service.   The entire congregation is together at once, and when everyone sings, it just fills you up with a sense of hope, joy, and a sense that you are a part of a unique community.  This is something that is very special to me.  My love for my faith is shown through my decisions and actions towards others.  I have chosen to be on the student vestry for 3 years.  I have always participated somehow in my school’s church community ever since 1^st grade.  It is something that I have always enjoyed.  I always help my friends with any schoolwork that they are struggling with and I always make sure to encourage them in anything they want to do.  I feel like my religion has been a part of influencing me in those decisions, just as it has influence my entire life. 

            There are many things that our faith teaches us.  It teaches us how to live, how to think, and how to pray.  My religion has particularly taught me about how to treat others.  I have learned that the people that we love the most are the people that we usually treat the harshest.  This has taught me to always choose my words carefully, in case I end up having to eat them later.  This is an important lesson in life because it teaches people that when you say something, it sticks with you.  A very famous saying that can be applied in this situation says,

“There are two things that you can never take back…time and words.”

These words mean that when you are unkind or tell a lie, you cannot change what was said.  When you say something that is not nice, it leaves a permanent impression of you on everyone.  It ruins your reputation and can affect your entire high school experience.  The things that you say will always be in the memories of those that heard you.  It is something that cannot be erased or taken back.  When you tell a lie, the only way to undo it is to tell the truth.  When a person tells one lie, they end up having to tell more lies to make their originally lie still believable.  The deeper that you get buried, the harder it will be to climb out.  The more lies that you tell, the worse the consequences will be.  This is an important life lesson that was emphasized in my church.  It is a lesson that I will always carry with me in everything that I do. 

            There are many different objects that can symbolize many different special bonds that people may have in life.  For me, that symbol is a ribbon.  A ribbon is a strip of cloth that can tie to things together.  This is significant to me because it is something that my mom and I do together that brings us closer.  Every single morning, summer and school year, my mom puts a ribbon in my hair.  She always brushes it out first, which feels really, really good.  Then she fixes it by pulling it back, leaving it down, or putting it up.  Then we pick out a different colored ribbon together and she ties it in my hair. I always look forward to this occasion every morning because it is a time that my mom and I share. 

           

            A ribbon is one of the many common things that unite my mom and me together.  A ribbon is a long piece of cloth that can be tied to two separate things and bring them together.  The ribbon tying is a moment that my mom and I share together.  When the ribbon is tied, it brings us even closer than we were just a few minutes earlier.  This symbolizes the special bond that a mother and a daughter have together.  It is a very unique bond that cannot be copied.  It is a bond that cannot be with your father, grandmother, or siblings.  It is something that is unique to each individual.  The bond between a mother and a daughter is a very strong one that is not easily broken.  A mother and a daughter do so much together and are such big parts of each others’ lives.  The mother teaches her daughter the right way to be.  She gets to pick out homecoming and prom dresses with her daughter as she goes through high school.  A mother gets to be there at every moment to support her child in everything that she does.  A daughter looks at her mother and sees who she wants to be when she grows up.  Her mother teaches her everything, from simple math problems in first grade that she may not understand, to driving on the interstate and learning to park.  A mother and a daughter have a bond that gets tied together even more with every little thing that they do together.  It is something that is irreplaceable and one of the most precious things to a girl, no matter what happens. 

            The significant pieces of life come in many different shapes and forms.  For me, they are simply, a running shoe charm, the color green, my faith, and a ribbon.  Each of these things describes me in some way and how I have grown into the person that I am today.  The things that complete you are things that can not ever be replaced and are priceless.  Every now and then, stop and think about the things that are valuable to you, and learn to treat those things (or people) with the respect and love that they give to you.  Some of the objects that you may hold special in your heart will always teach you something.  The question is whether or not you will learn from the things that they teach you, and whether or not you will actually apply the things that you learn into your daily life.  

What Represents Me Draft

What Represents Me

            Throughout life, there are many people we meet, places we go, and things we do that influence us.  Some are people and things that we come across daily.  Very rarely does a person stop and think about how special these things are to them.  Many objects in life people take for granted everyday.  People do not comprehend how treasurable many daily parts of life are, and how they have shaped how individuals have grown as people.  When you pause, take a breath, and think about these things, you may realize just how special they are.  There are many small, but precious things in my life that have shaped me, including my running shoe charm, the color green, my faith, and a ribbon.  Each of these things has somehow affected the way I have developed as a person and how I view the world today. 

            That view of the world can also extend to my running shoe charm.  My running shoe charm is a very small charm that I wear around my neck on a chain.  It never comes off.  I wear it absolutely everywhere unless I am required to take it off, like in a meet.  It is special to me because it was given to me by my aunt right after I ran in the state track meet this past year.  It fully represents my love for running.  I started running Cross Country in 6^th grade off of a whim, and I haven’t stopped since!  Every year since that first practice, I have been a part of the Episcopal Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor track teams.  I have run 196.72 miles since summer started.  I ran 100 of those just in the month of July.  So far, all of my hard work has paid off.  I have obtained a lot from working hard in my running.  I have learned many things that cannot be taught, but have to be experienced. 

            My running shoe charm is more than just a pretty piece of jewelry that I wear around my neck.  To me, it represents the things that running has taught me and is a constant reminder to live by what I have learned.  Running is like life.  Every aspect of running can be transcribed into different parts of your life.  The training and work that you put forth can develop your mind to never give up, and to always go the extra mile.  This can be used in school, work, faith, friendship, and many other things.  An old saying that I like that talks about going the extra mil is the 212 degrees saying.

At 211 degrees, water is hot.

At 212 degrees, water boils.

And with boiling water comes steam,

And with steam, you can power a train.

One extra degree makes all the difference.

This shows how going the extra mile makes all the difference in the world.  In a race, the stronger of the two runners will win.  This can be applied to everything in life.  The person who works the hardest will have the best results.  The person who does things the right way and doesn’t take shortcuts will eventually find success in everything that they do.  They learn to work hard in everything.  Running the extra mile also means to do what’s right when no one is watching.  That means going out a running everyday even if the coach isn’t there to make sure you do it right.  It means doing extra homework or studying to make a better grade in a class.  Going the extra mile is not an easy thing to do, but it will always pay off in the long run. 

Yet each piece represents another side of me, and just the same as my running shoe charm represents hard work and going the extra mile, the color green represents the love of life and what true determination looks like.  The color green is everywhere people go.  It is all around outside in nature, it is on clothes, on bags, on books, it is on food, it is on candy wrappers.  The color green is the color that the human eye can perceive the most shades of, and therefor is seen the most everywhere. It is the most calming color and the color that is most used in areas of relaxation and peace.  It symbolized health, balance, nature, and most importantly, life.  To me, it symbolizes my grandfather, Bobo.  He passed away 4 years ago, and his favorite color was green.  It was green from the first moment that I can remember.  Now that he is gone, we always go to the cemetery to see him, especially on special occasions.  The most special occasion of all that we go visit him for is his birthday.  Every year on April 3, my entire family goes to the cemetery and we release green balloons to the sky and watch them until we can’t see them anymore.  Once we cannot see them, we know that he got them in heaven.  My family always spends the entire afternoon there on his birthday.  We have a picnic and some cake, we play tag, and we just sit and relax.  The color green represents my grandfather, the things that he taught me, and the treasured memories that I have of him. 

            The color green symbolizes life, and how special the people that we love are to us.  When my grandfather died, it taught me two very important lessons that you can only relate to if you personally experience them.  The first and most important thing that I learned is to treasure the small moments, because one day, they might turn out to be big moments.  Towards the last few days of Bobo’s life, he was unable to see well, feed himself, get out of bed, or do all the little things that most people do everyday.  I would sit by him and feed him little bits of peaches while all the other kids in my family went to the back and read a book or watched TV.  I remember wanting to go and play with them too, but instead I sat by him and fed him.  I have never regretted that decision. The time I spent with him is some of the best moments that I ever spent with my grandfather.  The memories that I have of doing that are ones that nobody else in my family has.  These memories are some of the most valuable memories that I have and I have never regretted a single small thing that I ever did with Bobo. 

The second thing that I learned was that the people you love are never truly gone until you forget them and the things that they taught you.  They will always live on in the hearts of the people that cared for them.  I still remember my grandfather today.  I remember the little things that he taught me, like not to eat while laying up side down on the couch, or eating right by the computer.  He taught me more than just little things.  He showed me how to work hard through his every day actions, like using holding his own fork and knife, or walking.  One year for my mom’s birthday, he walked across the room for her.  It made everyone cry.  Doing little things like that showed how hard he worked and how true determination is working hard to achieve your goals, even the little ones, which is a lesson that he taught me that has stuck with me to this day. 

            Faith is something that everyone learns about at a young age.  Many learn first about the birth of Jesus and Noah’s Arc.  As they get older, they learn more and more about their religion and the history of it.  Religion can be a very central part of a person’s choices and personality.  In my family, it plays a significant role in our Sunday lives.  Every Sunday morning, we all go to church together.  It is a time of peace and a break from doing homework.  I usually like going to church.  Part of the reason that I love Christmas break is because of the Christmas Eve church service.   The entire congregation is together at once, and when everyone sings, it just fills you up with a sense of hope, joy, and a sense that you are a part of a unique community.  This is something that is very special to me.  My love for my faith is shown through my decisions and actions towards others.  I have chosen to be on the student vestry for 3 years.  I have always participated somehow in my school’s church community ever since 1^st grade.  It is something that I have always enjoyed.  I always help my friends with any schoolwork that they are struggling with and I always make sure to encourage them in anything they want to do.  I feel like my religion has been a part of influencing me in those decisions, just as it has influence my entire life. 

            There are many things that our faith teaches us.  It teaches us how to live, how to think, and how to pray.  My religion has particularly taught me about how to treat others.  I have learned that the people that we love the most are the people that we usually treat the harshest.  This has taught me to always choose my words carefully, in case I end up having to eat them later.  This is an important lesson in life because it teaches people that when you say something, it sticks with you.  A very famous saying that can be applied in this situation says,

“There are two things that you can never take back…time and words.”

These words mean that when you are unkind or tell a lie, you cannot change what was said.  When you say something that is not nice, it leaves a permanent impression of you on everyone.  It ruins your reputation and can affect your entire high school experience.  The things that you say will always be in the memories of those that heard you.  It is something that cannot be erased or taken back.  When you tell a lie, the only way to undo it is to tell the truth.  When a person tells one lie, they end up having to tell more lies to make their originally lie still believable.  The deeper that you get buried, the harder it will be to climb out.  The more lies that you tell, the worse the consequences will be.  This is an important life lesson that was emphasized in my church.  It is a lesson that I will always carry with me in everything that I do. 

            There are many different objects that can symbolize many different special bonds that people may have in life.  For me, that symbol is a ribbon.  A ribbon is a strip of cloth that can tie to things together.  This is significant to me because it is something that my mom and I do together that brings us closer.  Every single morning, summer and school year, my mom puts a ribbon in my hair.  She always brushes it out first, which feels really, really good.  Then she fixes it by pulling it back, leaving it down, or putting it up.  Then we pick out a different colored ribbon together and she ties it in my hair. I always look forward to this occasion every morning because it is a time that my mom and I share. 

           

            A ribbon is one of the many common things that unite my mom and me together.  A ribbon is a long piece of cloth that can be tied to two separate things and bring them together.  The ribbon tying is a moment that my mom and I share together.  When the ribbon is tied, it brings us even closer than we were just a few minutes earlier.  This symbolizes the special bond that a mother and a daughter have together.  It is a very unique bond that cannot be copied.  It is a bond that cannot be with your father, grandmother, or siblings.  It is something that is unique to each individual.  The bond between a mother and a daughter is a very strong one that is not easily broken.  A mother and a daughter do so much together and are such big parts of each others’ lives.  The mother teaches her daughter the right way to be.  She gets to pick out homecoming and prom dresses with her daughter as she goes through high school.  A mother gets to be there at every moment to support her child in everything that she does.  A daughter looks at her mother and sees who she wants to be when she grows up.  Her mother teaches her everything, from simple math problems in first grade that she may not understand, to driving on the interstate and learning to park.  A mother and a daughter have a bond that gets tied together even more with every little thing that they do together.  It is something that is irreplaceable and one of the most precious things to a girl, no matter what happens. 

            The significant pieces of life come in many different shapes and forms.  For me, they are simply, a running shoe charm, the color green, my faith, and a ribbon.  Each of these things describes me in some way and how I have grown into the person that I am today.  The things that complete you are things that can not ever be replaced and are priceless.  Every now and then, stop and think about the things that are valuable to you, and learn to treat those things (or people) with the respect and love that they give to you.  Some of the objects that you may hold special in your heart will always teach you something.  The question is whether or not you will learn from the things that they teach you, and whether or not you will actually apply the things that you learn into your daily life.