This I Believe

Margo Johnston 705                                                                                     November 8, 2012

“This I Believe” Essay

When I was about 6 or 7 years old, I went to my first funeral. The women who died, Linda, wasn’t a blood relative, and we weren’t even close with her husband, but we still went. I can remember seeing the woman’s brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews. I can remember looking at pictures of her and noticing how young she looked. How unexpected it must’ve been. When I saw Linda’s kids, I tried to put myself in their positions, but it seemed so weird. But when I thought about it, I realized how it was just as good a chance for it to happen to my family as it was to theirs.

            Though the death didn’t really have an affect on my family, it did change my view on it. I’ve always loved my family, but going to the funeral made me realize how important family really is. When I got home I remember immediately wanting to spend time with my family, as if it was going to be the end of the world. Instead of going out and having a big reunion with my cousins and aunts and uncles, I chose to stay in and hang out with just my parents and sister. It wasn't the same as a big reunion, but it made me feel thankful for my family.

            A couple months after the funeral, my cousin Nikki was diagnosed with cancer. It was a big deal to my family especially because Nikki had just had a baby and had recently gotten married. Even though it wasn’t a bad case, and we knew nothing too bad would happen to her, it still brought my family together. It taught everybody how you could lose somebody at anytime, just like how Linda’s family lost her. I had already known how important family was, but not my other relatives. In a couple of months Nikki was better than ever and pregnant with her 2^nd child, as if nothing had ever happened.

            Going to that funeral really helped me understand the importance of family, and how anything could happen at any time. The funeral will always be in my mind and I will now know how important it is to stay close with my family, just like I did when my cousin got sick. That is why I believe in family.

Persopholis

This week I read, "Persopholis" Its a graphic novel based on a true story about a young girl living in Iraq in the 80's when there is a war going on. Its about how difficult it is living in a city with war and chaos and at the same time, growing up as a normal young girl. Throughout the book you see how she changes, and the phases she goes through, the different friends she has, and the different experiences she has as well. It shows even the littlest scenes that happen in her life, that might seem unimportant but are also very honest and realistic.
      Even though it is a graphic novel, it really teaches you something about what life was like in Iraq and is not what most graphic novels are. It is almost scary at some points, but also very realistic. I've already read it twice but I feel like a got a lot more out if it this time and learned a lot more than the other times. I enjoyed it and am planning on reading the sequel.

Revolt of the Evil Fairies

-->

Margo Johnston 705                                                                         November 9, 2012

Revolt of the Evil Fairies Essay

“Revolt of the Evil Fairies” tells the a story of a young boy that tries his very hardest to get the lead role in the school play. Unfortunately, he fails. Not because he was bad, but because he was black. However, through out it all, in the face of terrible adversity, both before and after he didn’t get the part, he was always determined.

Even though the protagonist tried his very hardest, his effort never paid off. The main character would have done anything, but he knew he was “doomed from the start” because of how segregated and racist society was in the 1940’s even within an all black school.  What society was in the south back then was completely different then what it is now, because good people like him couldn't do what they wanted. The protagonist mentioned, “I made the best grades in my class, I was the leading debater, and the scion of a respected family in the community, but I could never be Prince Charming because I was black.” Even if he was a perfect example for a good Prince Charming, he could never reach his goal.

The protagonist never changed his goal on the inside, but would still do anything on the outside if it helped him get the part. It was almost as if his determination was blinding him from what he was doing. For example, the author mentioned, “Yes, and I purloined my sister’s can of Palmers Skin Success.” Even if he did try to change his identity, it just showed how much he was determined to get that part, and stand up for what he believed in. And even though he still didn’t get the part, after doing EVERYTHING he could, he still kept working.

Even though the protagonists ended up not getting the part, he still tried his very hardest in what he was doing. Just as he secretly predicted, once again he was stuck with the head of the evil fairy role, but in some ways that make him even more determined. It was as if the story had grown larger than just getting the role. He says, “I threw my soul into the part and made the Head Evil Fairy a character to be remembered.” He wanted to show the teachers and the school that they had made a bad choice by not choosing him. And even though he was disappointed about his part, he wasn’t going to let Leonardis mess up the play by hitting him. After the fight he realized that he doesn’t need to change himself or try to act different to be in the play. He might not have solved the problem in the best way but he stood up for himself. And despite the fact they had to bring the curtain down, he still did the right thing and finished.

In conclusion, the story starts out as with a little dark skinned black boy hating trouble with discrimination. It doesn’t end that way, though. By the end of the short story, the author has shown what it was like for the protagonist and what he did to “revolt” against the adversity. He realizes its okay if he is not light skinned and perfect like Prince Charming, according to his old fashioned teachers. And he shows the power of determination.

Go Ask Alice

I am almost finished with "Go Ask Alice" and she has changed a lot since the beginning of the book. Her views on drugs go up and down throughout the book. But halfway through book, you could tell it wasnt going to end well. She says herself in and entry from January "After you've had it, there isnt even a life without drugs..." After the first time she had drugs over the summer, you might've thought she would just go home and go on having her normal life, but she doesn't. When she meets Chris and Richie, she was sucked in. By the end of the book, shes turned into different person that has experienced horrible things. By her last entry, drugs has robbed her from her family, her friends, and a normal teenage experience.