courage

   
        Courage is finding a boost inside of us to help us do things we could never see ourselfs doing. having a passion for something, to stand up for what you believe in despite the obstetrical that is fear. "Courage in not the absence of fear, but moving ahead despite fear. For if there is no fear, who needs courage?" -Stephen A. Dimonds let your courage be stronger then your biggest fears. don't let the fear of failure keep you from doing what is right. Life is about being courage's we weren't but in this world to life an easy picknick in the park type of life. That is why obstetrical s are placed in front of us, so we can have the courage to jump over the hurdles of life.
        Something as simple as standing up for what you believe in can change the view of a whole nation. Rosa parks could have just given up her seat to that white men and avoided all the trouble she placed her life in. But she passionately believed that segregation was wrongs, no where in the bible those is say one race over powers the other. God sees us all as equals so why don't we see each other as equals also, why must I a human live in fear of another human Rosa Parks could have thought to her self. courageously she sat and stood for her race. If it was not for acts of courage like those we could not live so peacefully as we live today.
          Don't under estimate the power a human holds. Although we find ourselfs feeling as insignificant as a spec of dust, we have the power to move mountains. Leave your fears behind you and let courage take control of your life. No unforgettable story ever starts with " This one time I said nothing when I knew I had to." Scare people, give them a reason to talk, given them a reason to call you courage's.    

responsibility

Responsibility , the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.

whether its as simple as taking care of a gold fish or as complex as taking care of a dieing loved one everyone has responsibilities. 

There is times where responsibility can turn into a load of stress. Having to go through life knowing that you have so many responsibility's to attain to. That can not just be put to a side, there always in the back of your mind. Like that catchy yet annoying song that the radio plays ever so repetitively. Your sick out of your mind of it but, it never seems to go away. 

For a teenager to be so unbearably unhappy that he would choose to kill himself is something that's almost too painful for a parent to think about. But with the increasing prevalence of teen suicide no parent can afford to ignore the possibility. 

Adults don't understand the pressure that to much responsibly can do to teen in high school. We are expected to act like adults and still be treated as if we where still five. 

We are not only expected to act a certain way, but also to be a certain way. They tell us go to school, get good grades. but what if your trying to do so but certain things you just cant understand. your trying to do the best you can but your best isn't good enough. Adults don't understand that a high schools students life isn't just school. Its homework daily, sleepless nights, early mornings, unnecessary drama that you cant run away from because it follows you. Because you cant run from whats in your head. The pressure of making your parents proud. The pressure to be good enough not only education wise but to gain acceptance from your peers.  

You are giving no other choice then to grow thinking or your self a a failure because you can remember a time where you had such a thirst for knowledge but school and everything that comes along with it has taken that thirst away. You dread the thought of school you cant bear the thought of another miserable say at a place that chains you down into a prison of self hate, self pity, anger and frustration. 

We all have responsibilities but responsibilities can turn into stress its no ones fault there's no particular thing or  person to blame. These responsibilities are what mold you into the person you are destine to be. Its what you do and how you react to the responsibilities that are thrown at you that builds and creates your character. 

civil humanity

We are all  in a endless battle with our inner demons.

We are  all trying to find a way to cope with these unappealing insecurities, some cry, some cut, some pity themselves. we try to find any copping mechanisms to numb the pain because no one wants to feel insecure.

we even go as far as  compare ourselves to people we think are worse off than us, just to feel a bit better about ourselves. people quite often harm each other, on purpose because that feeling of empowerment over the weak gives us confidence. But why is this? how could calling someone cruel unnecessary words make anyone feel any better about them self's ? It doesn't, maybe for a second but after you call that chubby girl that breaths heavily in your gym class a "fat troll" what then? Those scaring words will not fix her her physical appearance neither will it fix your own flaws so why is man stuck on this type of cruelty. Maybe we believe its okay to be cruel because we are not hurting ourselves, "its not me they are talking about so i don't care," 

People have eyes of there own, they can point out there own flaws quicker then any stranger could, so why contently remind people of there imperfections, they know. they know of that extra fat in there lower tummy, they know of there stick figure body shape, they know there own flaws before you could even notice them. 

Although one might not like how people look. No one is entitled the right to put others down because of minor flaws. For example Oprah was called to fat for television, Demi lovato  and many well know celebrities are faced with the consistent reminder that they in no way are they perfect and never will be. We have forgotten to look past physical appearance and look into what really matters. We are to busy reminiscing on the idea of physical perfection when perfection does not exist. Its the state of wanting to be better,prettier,smarter,funnier then everyone else that brings out humans hurtful cruelty. if we could only remind ourselves that we are all dealing with the same hell but different demons we could live in compassion rather then in competition. 

Open letter to Albert Camus

Dear, Albert Camus

I have latterly finished your piece of art titled "The Stranger" I have never taken the time to analyze a book the way I did yours. Your books challenged me to think out side the boxes and see the world in a greater different perspective then I use to see it. I now question life its self after reading this book.

From the characters, to even the title, everything about this book was brilliantly laid out. "The Stranger" characterizes the main character in the book. Meursault sees the word in such a different perspective then the rest of society isolating him from the world making it seem like he's a stranger  or an outcast because of his realistic views on life. I questioned the character a lot at the beginning of the story because of his emotional aspect toward things and situations that a regular person would act different towards, like his mothers death or Marie's love towards him. "maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know. "(3) or"I answered the same way a did the last time..."(41) His tone sounds so indifferent so calm so careless about things  that should make you feel so much emotion. Makes the reader question why and get so deeply involved in the book.  Thought the  book the main character  has a emotional and physical connection with the weather page 57 paragraph two "There was the same dazzling red glare..." shows you the relationship between the weather and the characters feeling toward what he was about to do. You can feel the fear he has by the way he described the sun hitting his face "It seemed to me as if the sky split open...My whole begin to tensed and I squeezed my hand around the revolver." (59) as if the sun was trying to stop him from killing the man but his body wouldn't let him.

Part 2 of the book when everything starts to come together and make sense. This part of the book is when everything you knew about the world changes and your left with a blank mind saying nothing more but, "wow."  when said "I realized then that a man who had lived only one day..." (79)  get you thinking that humans can get used to ever type of environment they are placed in and time is the key to help you overcome, sadness, discomfort, or change. "no, there was no way out , and no one can imagine what nights in prison are like"  (81)  he quotes what one of the nurse had told him at his mothers funeral. knowing the feeling of being in prison I feel like the character was trying to say know one knows how others lives unless you liked there life's or you get used to a environment you don't see yourself living any other way.  Just like your mind sets, you don't change unless you are faced with a situation that makes you change.

"I had the stupid urge to cry.." is when the character realizes how different he is from the world how his thoughts are nothing like what his society what's his to think. during his jury they kept on reminiscing on his behavior during his mothers death. The jury wanted a reason his behavior the jury or his society can not except his actions as just something that happened because they are stuck on there is an explanation for everything, but to Meursault's isolated soul there wasn't. "Deep down I knew perfectly well that it doesn't much matter whether you die at thirty or at seventy..." to Meursault human life was meaning less, we all are born live and die. Not all the same way but we are bound to end up in the ground "For everything to be consummated..." (123) This ending given a sense of  relief, as if the character is at peace with himself knowing we will all face the same sentence at the ends of our life journey's.
                                                                                                                                                   sincerely,
                                                                                                                                           Yohana Olivas

The Stranger

 

 1) The Stranger is divided into two parts and I have already read part one page 59 out of 123 pages. The beginning part of the book is pleasant and very easy and simple to read the sentences are short sort of choppy showing the reader true voice of the author. I enjoyed the first part of the novel it is a well written introduction into the far more drastic things that are bond to happen thought the second part of the book, I and every excited to continue reading this unordinary book that I plan to finish very soon.
     2)The protagonist in The Stranger is a men named Meursault he seems to be an ordinary men  but is put in a position that alters his life. A What was suppose to be a fun filled at the beach turned into a senseless murder with no return. pages 57-59 the protagonist describes the sun with such drastic detail that leaves the reader wondering why? the author then compares the sun to the day the protagonist mother had died giving the reader a answer to why he describes the sun so much, the sun reminds him of a day he wishes not to remember. When he is face to face to his conflict the author begins to describe the sun hitting his face as if it was hell its self pouring down on him. Just as if the suns rays where trying to stop him from making a careless diction. From I have read the reader can guess that he will make a careless diction that he will quickly regret.
    4)Based on what I have read in this book I am very captivated by it, and is one I would recommend to all reading levels. Its simple, yet interesting, easy to read but not childish or boring, and for those who are not fund of reading, its short. A problem that may come across some with this book is, you need to stop and think about what the author is trying to say this book is not one you skim though and understand is simply. It take a little imagination, witch I believe is what keeps me captivated in this book.
    5)A quote that stood out to me is the very first sentence of the book "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know." I first I was puzzled because I was unsure of who maman could be, but I quickly cached on, maman being a kind named he gave to his mother. What stood out to me about this quote is the casualness of it, his tone of voice seems so calm and careless. As if him mother was just a far relative that has just passed, and you don't really don't  feel a sense of pain because you have no emotional connection to them. Its unordinary that he would speak in this tone because this is his beloved mothers passing, the person that spend her hole life caring and protecting you has just passed and the protagonist takes it as an everyday thing, as if he was saying. "Its cool mom's die everyday no biggy." This gives an emotional appeal to the reader making you want to continue reading, but yet aggravates you keeping you thinking, why does he feel this way? As I have said before this book is one you have to have a good imagination, these rhetorical devices are what keep you at the edge of your seat with this book.

Open Letter to a Author

Dear Rebecca Skoot,

       I have currently finished your new york times best seller, The Immortal Life of Henrirtta Lacks .  This book has given me a better understanding of advancements in medicine and changes throughout  our history. It have given me a new few on how one single person can make a huge impact in future life's, and future advancements. Before this book, the name Henrietta Lacks  had no significance in my brain, but after finishing this book Hernrietta Lacks is a name I am sure to let everyone know of. 

       You could have chosen to write this book in nothing more then a informative non-enthusiastic matter but, you did not. As the writer you gave this book both an informative and entertaining  aspect to it. "You better take me to the doctor. I'm bleedin and it aint my time"(15) is one of the quotes that stood out to me because of how much voice the characters have. You can imagine the character actually saying these words in your mind  letting you know these characters once lived and are real. 

        When I first picked up this book I was not sure if it was one I would really have an interest in because I knew it would be every informative  and no fun would come out of reading this book.  Soon I got attached and couldn't stop reading. At the beginning of the book I thought taking Henrietta's cells was inhumane and unfair to her and her loved knows, but by the end of the book I learned that it was legal at that time for doctors to take what they needed as research or history of the patient. I knew about segregation but I could never imagine it "Told she could not have any more children Says if she had been told before, she would not have gone through with treatment." (47)  This quote is one of the many that showed segregation in the book. She was colored and not well educated making it easy for doctors to take advantage or not tell her about the effects of her treatments.  
          " I know your mother and father and all the cousins all mingled together in their own way, but don't you ever do it, Dale. Cousins are not supposed to be havin sex with each other."(115) This quote tough me the shift in history morals. In Henrietta's time it was common and even encouraged for family members to have children and families together, but today it is morally wrong to do so. "People wouldn't use words like epilepsy, mental retardation, or neurosyphilis  to describe Elisie's condition until years later. To the folks in Lacks Town, she was just simple. Touched"(23) Shows people did not know side effects of having children with relatives, it also showed me that people in past times where more humble about disorders then people today. At the end of the book I had a deeper understanding on things that had crossed my mind a couple of times. I am looking forward to learing more from your style of writing and your other books.

 Sinceraly, 

Yohana Olivas

       

Book

         1) The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot includes 38 chapters and 310 pages full of facts, culture, history, and heart. Unfortunately it was hard to finish this book quicker because of extra curricular activities that did not give me time to enjoy the book as much as I desired. I determinedly made time to successfully complete and analyze this astonishing book. I am now looking forward to being introduced to more books that will keep me as engaged as  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks has.
         3) The way the author formatted the book was completely different then any other book I have gotten a chance to read. All books have a setting and plot and  a climax but the way Rebecca Skloot organized her writing is pleasant to read. The book is divided into three parts that are a story with in each section. Section one pages 13-86 are called "life", just as the title mentions. This section is about Henrietta or as birth name would call her Loretta Pleasant. The reader grows right along with  Henrietta, the author visually puts the reader into Henrietta's life, feeling every struggle she went through. Section two is "death" pages 87-176, this section is the informative part of the book. Giving you a glimpse of modern medicine and medical journalism. Helping you understand how historically important Henrietta is to advancements in medicine. "Death" Is like the center of a chocolate tootsie-pop. The part where all charters have a significant place in the biography and the readers understands the main characters life. The Final section is named "Immortal"pages 177-310. Witch I see as creative title not only because is the actual title of the book but this is the section in witch the reader makes Henrietta and her family a part of you. The readers sees  the unfairness of Henrietta's situation how it not only effected her but also the future of her family.  Not only has the author showed the lacks family who Henrietta is, she shows the reader who she is and who she forever be.
           5) One of the many things I enjoyed about this book is how visual and poignant  it is. " I know your mother and father and all the cousins all mingled together in their own way, but don't you do it, Dale. Cousins are not supposed to be havin sex with each other. That's uncalled for."  This quotes has so much power because not only dose it show the horrifying situation Dale was going though but it shows how different things where in the passed. That one quote shows growth in humanity, and how we start to realize right from wrong.
            6)  "people wouldn't use the word use word like  epilepsy, mental retardation, or neurosyphilis to describe Elise's condition until years later.  To the folks in Lacks Town  she was just simple, Touched. " this quote shows how metal disorders where not common and where not seen as disorders they where seen as simple differences. People didn't know of the complications of having children with relatives back then, to them relative reflation ships where normal. Today we know it's wrong but other then being wrong it creates a higher chance of the fetus to come out with a birth deficiency.