How Experiences Can Change One’s Life

What is your opinion that an individual’s life can be altered by a particular experience?

 

Experiences drive individuals’ lives as they form specific opinions, beliefs, and values. All of these can either grow into beauty or shatter into one’s death. When we face a specific experience, it begins to alter the way we view the world and multiple aspects of it. This shift in beliefs and perspectives greatly impacts one’s life, changing it either for better or for worse. In the film A River Runs Through It, we are shown two opposing examples of this. Norman flips the page to a new chapter in his life through a specific experience while his brother, Paul is forced to shut his book altogether. Experiences, small or large, will impact our lives in some way because our perspectives are constantly altering and it only takes one particular experience to cause a drastic change in our lives. 

 

In the film A River Runs Through It, directed by Robert Redford, we are introduced to Norman, a boy who idolizes his father’s values and beliefs and grows up centered around them. A shift arises when Norman meets Jessie Burns at a dance. He tries to impress her by mentioning jazz however this rapidly becomes an awkward conversation. Viewers can tell that Norman is trying undoubtedly hard to impress Burns as he is very affectionate toward her. He continues to pursue her by asking her out the very next day and we see his feelings for her build up throughout the movie as he takes her brother fly-fishing and admits to not wanting to leave her when he gets an offer from the University of Chicago to be a professor. The particular experience, Norman meeting Burns, drastically changes Norman’s life as it begins to revolve around her. At the end of the movie, we see that they plan to move to Chicago together. If it weren’t for Burns, Norman might not have taken the job since he wanted to become a lumberjack instead of a professor. Even as he receives the offer letter, we see the humbleness in him and the hesitance when sharing this news with Burns, however, he does so right after she begins to cry. This shows the extent to Norman’s love for her and the fact that he wants to see her happy and will do anything to achieve this goal. Another way the experience of meeting and falling in love with Burns alters Norman’s life is by the shift in his beliefs and values. All throughout his childhood, Norman and his younger brother Paul were taught that fly-fishing is as sacred as religion and should be fundamental in their lives. Paul holds onto this into his adult life and this becomes his key value. Norman on the other hand, while still fly-fishing from time to time, creates a new value for himself, Burns, and her love. He sacrificed his goal of wanting to be a lumberjack for Jessie, and while Norman seemed upset at first, love had overtaken him after he witnessed how excited Burns was to start the next chapter of their lives together. This shows the commitment Norman has for their relationship and how Burns makes him feel content.

 

Experiences can alter your life for the better, however also for the worse. Paul understands the craft and technique of fly-fishing a lot more than anyone in the movie. Fly-fishing is the one value in his life that he respects and this is vastly portrayed in the scene when Norman watched his brother “create art.” For a moment, us viewers are led to believe that fly-fishing, his love, will save him, but alas it does not. The particular experience that drastically changes Paul’s life is the scene when him and Norman are at the bar. Norman watches as Paul walks over to a room of men that seem to be gambling. Paul whispers in one of the man’s ears and the mood suddenly diverts when around five men begin to shove him and push him out of the room. Norman gets startled and soon realizes that Paul is in debt due to the lifestyle he created for himself. Norman, then, offers his brother money but Paul refuses to take any of it. This

 experience unquestionably alters Paul’s life as it ultimately leads to his death. The first sign of this is when he is late for fishing with Norman and their father. Paul is never late for three things, “work, fishing, and church.” However, when he is late for fishing in a scene, even though he shows up, it foreshadows that his life is going to rotate upside down very soon. It does. Paul is said to have been beaten to death at the bar for all the debt that he was in and this showcases how even a small experience like Paul’s, when he got shoved out the door at the bar, can lead to the tragedy of one’s life.    

 

All my life I’ve wanted to be a writer. I remember sitting in my elementary class writing stories upon stories and convincing myself that I will become an author and will write hundreds of books. One experience recently occured that drastically changed my views and possibly my future life. I was invited to an open house at the University of Lethbridge and while deciding whether or not I should go, I began worrying about where I want to see myself twenty years from now. I finally chose to go and it definitely altered my life. I felt hopeless until I asked a volunteer where the library is. She said to me, “the library is the building next to this one and the Education library is two floors up.” I decided to give myself a tour of the libraries and while entering the Education library, my life started changing. I still remember walking in and being in complete awe of the books, and hundreds of sources that were placed for teachers. I walked around and saw hand puppets, children’s’ books and teachers’ guides. I walked over to the back of the library and glanced out the window. Beautiful hills were making there way to the sky that was laced with endless clouds of pure white. This was the moment I knew that I was meant to be a teacher. I opened multiple guides, adn textbook sources, and instantly fell in love with the art of teaching children and building the foundations of their brains. Ever since that day, I have been working harder than I ever have to reach my goal of going into the Education program at the University of Lethbridge and I am positive I will be able to grasp onto this dream and make it a reality.

 

Certain experiences can drastically alter your life and continually change your views, beliefs, and perspectives and many aspects. This was showcased in the film when Norman met and fell in love with Burns. He showed humbleness and commitment as his feelings grew into something real. It altered his life as he decided to become a professor and move to Chicago with her. Paul, on the other hand, ended up getting beaten to death due to the debt that he was drowning in. Through visiting the University of Lethbridge, my future suddenly became clear and I now know the path I will set foot on. Every experience changes some aspect of an individual’s belief, opinion, or values for better or for worse. 

Box Labeled “Lady-Like”

 

I distinctly remember the night I lost all faith in the universe. I distinctly remember the day I gained it all back. My name is Anne LeBlanc and I here is my story. 

 

I was born on a scorching afternoon in nineteen-fifty. My mother always described it as the most enlightening day of her life, my father only ever mentioned the blistering heat of mid-July. Growing up as a woman in the nineteen-hundreds had its flaws. I was always different. I didn’t want to wear dresses and have tea parties, I didn’t want to stay home and have my hours revolve around chores. My dream was to be different. I wanted to go to school and learn. I wanted to sit in a classroom and absorb all the material being taught by my teacher. I wanted to take a long drive with a blanket of stars surrounding me and get a tattoo on my arm. I wanted to feel the depth that freedom had to offer. My mind felt the desire to become something greater than myself, but that didn’t happen. 

 

My mother ran ill when I was a fourteen year old girl. Cancer. All the years of her life were condensed into two short months. I was never able to stir up one short word, goodbye. It took a toll on my life and I was never the same after that. 

 

My favourite memory of my mother was her urging me to behave as a lady should. “Anne straighten out your back, do not bend over like that, you look ridiculous.” or “Young lady, we have been through this at least a hundred times, you better sit with your legs crossed over, or do not sit at all.” This was our routine, my mother correcting my every movement and posture and me, well I did not know better than to rebel. I chose to ignore or when I wanted to have a bit of fun, I’d glance over at her, smile the widest smile, and laugh. My father always played along with me, “let her be a child for God’s sake.” Defeated, my mother would roll her eyes and walk away whispering to herself, “why do I even bother with this girl?” Laughter filled the room as my father grabbed onto my hands and we danced in the living room of our home.

 

This was my life, it was all I ever knew. I was what my mother had created of me and when she rose to the skies, I was lost. My father never spoke a word to anyone, let alone me. He remained in his study days after her death and I was left alone. 

 

This was the night I lost all faith in the universe, but mostly in myself. I distinctly remember that night as I held a tight grip on my mother’s hand. She leaned and whispered two short words, “be fearless.” If only I had listened to her soft voice once. 

 

The hallways echoed of her voice but she was not there. Each time I lumped into a seat, her voice would ring into my ears, correcting me. I had changed. With her gone, I obeyed for the first time. I had become the lady my mother always wanted of me. Dreams of going to school and getting an education no longer spurred inside my head and for the next couple of years, the memories associated with my mother were all repressed. The person who I once was, deteriorated into the abyss until I no longer had any desire but that of looking after the house and taking care of my father. 

 

 I knew though that a small ember continued to burn inside my chest. It never fully left. As the years dragged onto one another, I had begun to realize that there was no point in any of this. I was not my mother and there was nothing wrong with that. My mind felt the need to force myself into a box labeled “lady-like” and it was not for me. 

 

By the age of twenty-four, I set out on my own path. I was going to find the girl who had fluttered into the abyss and I was going to return her to her rightful owner. Society and its norms were never meant for me and I had begun to realize that it was alright. 

 

It was a heated afternoon in nineteen-seventy-five when I decided to receive my first tattoo. I sat in the stool of a small run-down store and my mother’s voice echoed in my head, “be fearless.” I never entirely understood what she meant until that day. She was the reason I felt brave. The tattoo was a photo of my mother. After that day I chose to express myself through the art of tattooing. I was a canvas that had been painted over a few times but all those times were through others’ lenses; my mother, society, until that day. I learnt to be a fierce woman and to alter the expectations that were forced upon me and billions of other girls and women.   

 

This was the day I gained my faith back in, not only society, but myself. I was braver than I had convinced myself.

 

After that, I took steps into my path and discovering my identity. I bought my first ever car with the money I had saved up in the summer of nineteen-seventy-one. It was a beige Volkswagen beetle that I cherish to this day. 

 

Ever since that day of getting my first ever tattoo, I  got many more of all the milestones in my life. They make me who I am and who I am is enough for me, even if it is not enough for society.   

The Strong Foundation of Beliefs

Night 

 

Every individual holds at least one core belief that they value to an extreme extent. If this value were to shift due to the influence of others’ actions, the way in which the individual perceives specific aspects in life can drastically change. Others’ actions toward you can either make the foundation of your beliefs stronger or can shatter it altogether. This is evident in the novel Night written by Elie Weisel. In this novel, Wiesel explores his hardship with having to face the horrific events of the halocaust. Near the beginning of the novel Elie forms his core belief, however, throughout the novel, that core belief is challenged due to the actions of individuals around him. The way in which others act toward individuals can alter and influence their beliefs either in a negative or positive way which results in the strengthening of one’s beliefs and values, or essentially, the shattering of one’s beliefs and values.

 

In the novel, Night, readers are introduced to a character named Moishe the Beadle. Elie’s attention is drawn to him due to the fact that he is very different from the individuals in Elie’s neighborhood. Moishe the Beadle is described as being a poor man who is very religious and humble. He prays often and his eccentric characteristics are what essentially draw Elie to Moishe the Beadle. In one part of the novel, readers find out the core belief that has been established within Elie through the influence of Moishe and his actions. Through the passion of his religion, Elie asks Moishe to be his mentor and to guide him to the true essence of his being. Elie feels the need to be closer to his God in a spiritual way and he believed that Moishe is the answer. Near that scene, Elie gets asked why he cries when he prays. He is bewildered and begins questioning why his faith is so strong. He replies by comparing his love for his religion with breathing. This shows that retaining Elie’s faith is a core belief for him and he realizes this through the actions and advice from Moishe the Beadle. As Moishe teaches him about the beauty in God and faith, Moishe mentions to Elie that if he confines his existence in searching for answers to his questions, then those questions will lose their power. Elie, from that point on, decides to live by this and gain trust in his God as well as in his faith. This statement displays the establishment of Elie’s faith and the extent to Mosihe’s influence on Elie’s beliefs and what he holds true to himself. When individuals are moved and inspired by the actions of people around them, their beliefs are influenced and strengthened, even when they don’t realize it at the time. 

 

While beliefs can be established through the influence of others, they can also shatter. This is evident in the novel Night when Elie first experiences the horrific and inhumane actions of the soldiers and guards. When he arrives at the first camp and gets separated from his mother and sisters, Elie witnesses babies being thrown into a chimney. From this point, till the end of the book, Elie’s beliefs in his faith deteriorate as he questions how his God is allowing these gruesome acts to take place. He is silenced as his father gets beaten up in front of him by a soldier and finds himself filled with guilt afterward. Near this part in the novel, Elie questions his core belief and wonders if there is a God at all. This is essential due to the fact that at the beginning of the novel, Elie’s beliefs were so strongly established. As the actions of the soldiers and guards grow more violent, Elie’s beliefs are negatively influenced to a higher extent. He watches an innocent child suffer for half an hour hanging from the rope of the gallow and mentions that that night, the soup tasted of corpses. This statement that Elie mentions can have multiple meanings, however, when viewing it from the perspective of his faith and beliefs, the soup can symbolize both. At this point in the novel, Elie’s beliefs have been permanently damaged and shattered due to all the gruesome actions he witnessed by the soldiers and guards, but also by the inaction from his God. Through the actions of others, one’s beliefs can be stripped from them until they hold a strong belief against their initial one. 

 

When I was in grade seven, I remember a time when my beliefs were greatly influenced by the actions of my peers. Until that day, I held a strong belief that every individual was as kind as they could be, I always saw the best in people. This was around the time I began wearing a headscarf and I began losing many friends. I didn’t understand it at all. It started small, in classrooms I would sit alone as my friends moved to other tables. Then, it began impacting me a lot when no one would want to spend time with me at all anymore. I walked into class one day and sat in the corner. I opened my book, For One More Day by Mitch Albom, and began reading. As I scanned every word in all the pages, a saw a slip of paper being passed to me from a boy in my class. I asked him what it was but he giggled and ran to the other side of the classroom. I opened the small piece of paper and read the horrifying words that were engraved on it: “you’re ugly and that’s why no one likes you.” I was bewildered. I read over the words again and again trying to make sense of what I was feeling. My hands began to shake and from the corner of my eyes, I could see hundreds of eyes glaring into my soul. I heard laughter coming from every corner of the classroom and I didn’t know better than to run. The action of my classmates, writing this awful note, handing it to me, and laughing at my face, drastically changed my belief. Some people were not kind at all, and it wasn’t always beneficial to see the best in them. What I didn’t realize at the time was that, while they were glaring at me and laughing at my imperfections, they couldn’t see the light that I held inside my soul. Through this experience and the actions of my peers, I have learned to never judge a book by its cover. Every individual is beautiful. That beauty, isn’t always on the outside. 

 

It can be a miracle when an individual’s actions influence your beliefs for the better. Moishe the Beadle did exactly that fro Elie. He taught him the true meaning of his faith and helped establish Elie’s core belief, the belief that faith is the most essential value one can hold. The actions others have toward an individual, however, can also impact their beliefs in the most negative way possible. Elie’s beliefs about his faith rose and shattered through the actions of the guards around him. They influenced his beliefs so much, that at the end of the novel, he held the complete opposite belief as he did in the beginning of the novel. He no longer believed in his faith. He questioned his God as to why he let such cruelty take place, and when it continued, Elie’s rejected his faith altogether, hence rejecting his core beliefs. While our beliefs are built on the foundation of personal experiences, others actions greatly influence them to either continue growing or ultimately break apart.