“Parents can only give good advice or put (us) on the right path, the final forming of a person’s character lies in (our) own hands.” Anne Frank. Thirteen years ago, I made a significant decision which highlighted a character trait, resulting in an important life lesson. A dusty, red classic 1968 Austin Healey Sprite was too tempting for my six year old hands. Being in the phase where I decorated everything including my school papers with hearts over my “I’s” and with smiley faces, the blank canvas of the right rear fender called to me. In a moment of weakness and finding myself alone in the garage of my childhood home, I succumbed to the temptation. Watching my finger create a bright red smiley face brought a devious amount of pleasure.
Life is not something simple as we often prefer. There are many different approaches and in most instances we will not find the desired fulfillment in any of them. In the short story “Parkers Back” written by Flannery O’Connor we have a multi-faceted view into the life of the primary character O.E. Parker. In addition we see into the life of Sarah Ruth, Parker’s wife and possibly into the life of author Flannery O’Connor, who died shortly after completing this short story. The characters in this story deal with Tattoos from totally different perspectives and get completely different results. Tattoos are the focal point of the story and prominent on many occasions. Without purpose in life people often make bad decisions which impact the rest of their lives and those they interact with. How often do we pretend to be something or somebody we are not, and have to live with the unpleasant results?
The effect of an individual 's personal experience may be one of the controlling factors of their life. In the short story “The Hand”, Yves Theriault presents the idea of the importance of an individual 's personal experience, and the effects of these experiences on their life. Yves shows how these personal experiences are important to one’s life, because it is in control of how an individual will change, and how it will develop their character and personality. This is shown by the character Géron, where one event in his life changed a personality trait that he had for most of his life. Many of my personal experiences could relate to Géron’s incident, where a small event had a large impact in my life, and how the story of our life is influenced
Rather it represented my efforts. Tackling an unideal situation head-on and using the distress it caused me as motivation are the trademarks of a growth mindset. People who have a growth mindset, in comparison to those with a fixed mindset, tend to have a better idea of who they are because they recognize their strengths and weaknesses (Dweck 11). Taking into account of their weaknesses is only part of the picture. Actively seeking to improve upon their faults, is what truly differentiates someone who believes that traits can be cultivated or are already carved in stone. Pushing past my failures produced success. That being said, how did I end freshman year fearlessly taking on new challenges to graduating high school as a content, unimproved writer?
When I was around the age of eight years old I grew a strange attachment and fascination with the "Rolling Stones" famous red lip logo. I first saw the pair of lips in the window of a local record store which was somehow still open at the the time. Having no knowledge of the band or their music I began replicating the lips on printer paper with my school set of crayons. Because I was unaware of the band to get a reference image I googled "lip logo" which not only provided me with the image I wanted but also several images of clip art lipstick marks. I drew the logo on my notebook, on my desk, and even on a pair of light wash denim jeans I had which my mom made me remove. For easter that year I got a rolling stones tee-shirt which was
During my childhood I learned a number of valuable and important lessons. Each as varied as the next. Several years ago, however, I was taught a lesson that forever altered my outlook on life.
Some mothers might disapprove of their child scribbling on the walls of their room. Other mothers, like my own, learn to eventually give in and buy washable writing utensils for their little ones. I was always the rambunctious, creative child of the family. Growing up with a “goody-good” older sister, my behavior was a bit of a surprise for my parents. My older sister, Jenny, was the golden child who would impress anyone who simply heard her speak. She excelled all her classes throughout elementary school and high school. My talents, on the other hand, consisted of drawing, arts and crafts, and making layouts for the yearbook and newspaper club.
I was always a creative child; it was something I just could not not be. Back then I didn’t know how to be ‘normal.’ While the other children wrote their essays about their mothers and pets or their best friends, I wrote about becoming birds or about ducks building robots. Truly. I suppose I could blame it on my parents – my father for trying to teach me how to read when I was too young and my mother for reading The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein to me as my bedtime story – but I know, truthfully, that it wasn’t their fault. It is no one’s fault, for I do not see my strange imagination as a terrible, abnormal thing. I do know that no one in particular influenced my creativity when I was younger, but I remember being obsessive about certain stories. I remember when I got my first computer – a 16-color piece of, well, garbage that barely ran. But even though it was so old and primitive, it opened new doors for my imagination, and I spent my childhood either playing games about knights and dragons or running around outside and acting out my own unscripted scenari...
Dr. D is a cardiothoracic surgeon. He was my hero. He may well still be, even though he is a throw-back to the days when I was more concerned about science than symbolism.
I tend to be a realist most of the time, which can have it’s upsides, although it can easily become demoralizing. I find that it’s helpful to have people in my life that can teach me to see things in a more optimistic light, which is something that my six-year-old family friend Aage does excellently. Whether it’s creating a new language, putting on a puppet show with toy cars, or just simply questioning the way something works, Aage never fails to motivate me to be a happier and more creative person. Aage embodies idealism in all of its aspects through his vibrant imagination and youthful innocence that is characteristic of a child his age.
The poet George Santayana once said, “The subject matter of art is life, life as it actually is, but the function of art is to make life better.” Robert Grave’s poem “Warning to Children” proves every aspect of Santayana’s quote. “Warning to Children” speaks of the wondrous, diverse aspects of our lives and our temptations prevents us from experiencing these aspects. Finally, the poem gives readers a warning towards these temptations, and with it, implicit instructions as to how to avoid them and to ultimately lead a better life.
Moments in our lives, will often leave a memory, some vivid, others vague. A memory recalls an experience we have had; coming of age opportunities usually are those that become memorable. Hannah Goodwin gives advice to, “Make time to create memories” (2013, para. 1). Goodwin continues to explain that, “Making memories does not require tons of money, or need to be elaborate vacations or expensive gifts.” (2013, Para. 1). I strongly agree with Goodwin’s statements. Some of my most memorable experiences came from simple things I did as a child, such as learning to ride a bike, playing board games with my family, and even playing in the snow. It was those simple, yet fun activities that all created life-long memories for me. Not only did these activities create great memories, but each one taught me something that has helped me become who I am today. From learning good sportsmanship while playing games with my family, to learning how to build a snowman, though simple things to learn, I got to learn them while having fun. I think that creating memories is important because as you reflect upon past experiences it becomes eas...
When I am at King’s Buffet, I always wonder what the interesting sushi tastes like, but I always eat the sweat and sour chicken instead because I don’t know what the sushi tastes like. I always wonder what would happen if I used the shampoo that Heidi Klum advertises but it might make my hair too oily or too dry. So I continue to use the same brand of shampoo for my hair. How can you pass a test if you don’t study before? How can you play in a symphony if you have never learned to play an instrument? How can we expect a shallow and spoiled princess who was raised with money to choose priceless objects over riches? As you grew up, who did you look up to the most? Who had the most influence on you when you made hard decisions? For most of us, it’s our parents. They’re our idols and our role models. We see them as people who don’t make mistakes. As we get older, we do our best to mimic them and we think about what they would have done in our place. In The Princess and The Tin Box by James Thurber, a princess has to make a decision to marry one of five princess based only on what gift th...
I remember, even as far back as Kindergarten, being overcome with a need to be perfect. I’m hunched over my desk, coloring vigorously, I feel an insistent tap on my shoulder. Glancing up from my desk, a friend hovers over me, “Elly, we need you to play four square! You’re the only one who has ever gotten Kamryn out.” I want to play but I can’t. I have to finish my drawing of planet earth for a class project. This is the third week of recess I’ve spent inside sketching; my classmates finished their illustrations within two days. But mine had to be perfect. The teacher thought it was remarkable–so did my parents.
In life we have all did something that was not right. When people get older they sit back and think about all the terrible things they have done in life. In today’s world trouble is easy to get into and is very hard to get out of. I have had many of these vivid turns over the past few years. Some of the most daring moments in my life have been turning points, where I have made a decision that have changed my entire life.
An event in my life that taught me an important lesson was to not draw inappropriate things accordingly to the school policy. It was back in the third grade. The sun was so bright. The chirping birds in the tree. I figured it was time to wake up for school. Elementary it was. I do my usual thing, take a shower, brush my teeth, and dress up. While I was taking a shower, I reminisced the time my third grade teacher talked about the school policy. I ignored my cognizance and continued scrubbing my body. I got out of the shower, dried and dolled myself up.