Hello ladies and gentlemen my name is BLANK and I am here because I am a risk taker. Have you ever heard the expression “if they jumped off a bridge would you too?” My answer was a nervous “yes” to a free-fall jump off a bridge. This decision was a life changing one.
It was a hot and humid day and my friends and I were out cycling for a few hours to fill in time. After a while we reached a foot bridge that was suspended over water. We all stopped before it. Suddenly my best friend turned around and said “I dare you to jump off the bridge.” Not to say anything, but I have a huge fear of heights. I have had it since when I went for a short, noisy and scary flight in a light aircraft when I was five. I have problems just going up in an elevator let alone jumping off a bridge.
I could see other people jumping off and screaming while they fell towards the water. The noise from the screams was making it worse for me as it was causing my stomach to tighten and making me feel sick. So I decided to take the easy way out of this situation without embarrassing myself in front of my friends. “Yes, ok” I said nervously. “But, only if you jump first.” I added. He said “fine” then got off his bike and put it down and said to look after it. He then made his way to the side of the bridge and stood up on the rail. He waved to us and then he just jumped. No fear or hesitation. He just jumped! I was amazed and then I hear a splash. Oh no! So much for the easy way out of this situation. I had assumed that he would decline and it would be left at that. We watched him swim back to the shore and then he went out of sight. I knew it was my turn next.
A few minutes later he reappeared triumphantly and announced that it was my turn to jump now that he had completed his end of the dare. With the spotlight on me and the pressure building as my friends cheered me on I decided that there was no way out and that it was time to face my fears and conquer them.
By the time Joseph McCarthy gave his Lincoln day speech the Red Scare in America was on full blast. Just a year prior to the speech the Soviets had successfully tested a nuclear bomb and China fell to the communists. There were problems both internationally with the Soviet incursion into Eastern Europe and domestically with Soviet spies in the United States. On February 9th 1950 this Senator from Wisconsin took advantage of the opportunity at his speech to the Republicans Women’s Club of Wheeling, West Virginia.
In both the film and novel, "Speak" by Lauren Halsen Anderson uses literary devices to demonstrate the experience the protagonist, Melinda Sordino faced as a teenage rape victim, as well as the steps necessary to cope and move on with her life. Both film and book share a great similarity in the conflict that goes on, as well as the flash backs indicated throughout this piece of work. Also, the symbolism shaped by the protagonist makes it more clear to understand the tramautic event. Moreover, the novel and film appears to be both familiar in many ways due to these elements followed by examples.
A kid who never had a bad experience with heights before goes cliff jumping for the first time with friends. He is excited and eager at first, but when he looks ove...
I picked up my starting blocks and walked over to the white line along with the seven other girls right beside me. I rubbed the bitter cold from my arms, and took a deep breath. I went to work setting up my blocks, dropping the footholds into the slots that fit my specific measurements. The starter announced that we would have two more minutes to take some practice starts before he would call us to the line. I got down in my blocks, rose up, and finally sprang out of them, just as well as I had been doing in practice the day before. I could not have been more ready for my eighth grade Mid-Southern Conference track meet.
Ever since the fall, mankind has had a voracious desire for power and influence. People witness this desire within the walls of the Capitol Building when the media exposes backroom deals. It also springs up whenever a politician uses a podium to persuade people that he makes the world work. Politicians possibly rely on persuasion because they crave the power. However, persuasion is a manipulative, unBiblical tactic of forcing others to accept a point of view by all means necessary.
Laurie Halse Andersons, Speak, published in 1999 educates the reality of which we must speak out to be heard. Presumptively the novel is set in the late 90's at Merryweather high school in Syracuse New York. Protagonist, Melinda Sordino, narrates her story as a sexual assault victim. We journey through her freshman year and watch her suffer to find her lost voice and overcome her negative convictions . While her persona is revealed, we see that the rape forces change on Melinda through violence. Several months of self mutilation and bitter silence, she finally speaks up for herself and confronts her antagonist. Melinda's introspection through her art allows growth and she becomes a survivor. Her recovery nonetheless was tough and protracted.
I have this fear that causes my body to shake. When I think about it, my skin becomes pale and cold. It’s death speeding through my mind. Once I have seen these monstrous roller coasters, the only thing in my mind was fear. Knowing that I’m afraid to go on these rides, I didn’t want to look like a fool in front of my friends. My mind is thinking of deadly thoughts. My palms were sweaty and I was twitching like a fish. I was petrified of heights.
Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, is first-person narrative about overcoming our habits and misfortunes. It takes place at Merryweather High over the course of a year. The main character, Melinda, is a fourteen year-old, who is just starting high school. She is introduced, at first, as someone who doesn’t speak to anyone, almost, at all. All the other people in the high school seem to detest her. They say hateful things to her and throw objects at her. She seems not bothered by any of this. She is in her own being.
My step-dad saw what was going on and he ran to me and caught the bike as I almost fell off. I just said I’m fine and went and sat in a chair. It turns out I had a broken arm and cuts and bruises. I did learn it the hard way, but I also learned from the race. I learned you can’t give up. I kept racing and turned into a better more experienced rider. The tough way was the best way to go.
Albert Camus's "Banquet Speech" is revolved around the meaning of art. He defines art as a concept of connecting communities as a whole. Although, art is not a reason for the artist to distinct themselves from the real world. Camus stands behind this when he admits his art is to foresee the truth behind this world and to see deeper into the people suffering from the truth. For him, as the writer, he believes his art work reaches out to everyone because he does not see himself any different from the readers. They are all the same. No judgements or hatred takes place in the piece of work but only the beauty of the community.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and can tell a thousand tales. Just what exactly is this saying? (Visual of a bad snap shot… finger in shot)
I did it. I jumped off. The cold air hitting my face as I plummet towards the gravel. Some panicking, some remained still. I heard one lady scream. Crashed. The pain jolted throughout my body. It didn't hurt as much as the realisation that I didn't succeed. I was still alive. People started to surround me, some dialing 911 to seek for professional help. A man was telling me "Hold on, you'll be fine". I didn't want to hold on.
I couldn’t believe today was the day, I felt my nerves tingling like they were being tickled by a feather. I felt my palms begin to sweat as my body shakes and the thought I’ve tried so hard to hide and forget wriggles into my mind. Anxiety started to crash over me and my every waking thought is consumed with worry. Soon what I thought was once a seeding of a problem turn into a sturdy oak tree of a worry. Even though I worried that I was not as good as the other girls competing that evening, I worried that I would fill on flat on my face while jumping over a
Change can have many meanings. It is going from “same” to “different”. Change can be defined as an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another and as a process of transition. The forces of change affect attitudes, beliefs and behavior. Not a single moment goes by when everything in our lives will remain the same. When you become adjusted to your surroundings, something changes again. Changes can affect both individuals and groups. Throughout our lives we go through many changes, especially in adolescence.
Self-awareness is not about reading a book or attending a course. Self-awareness is a journey, and it takes practice. It’s like a muscle that becomes more effective with time and effort. It gives us mental strength as opposed to physical strength. We are constantly changing and adapting to the multiple external forces around us and to our individual experiences. The more we learn to be aware of, and understand, our reactions, thoughts, and emotions, while also keeping in mind our values, the more we can become the best we can be and the more successful we can become.