January 18

Polished Lit Exploration

The Future

An individual who faces adversity in their life can stumble over problems and be motivated to get back up and accomplish their dream. Jeannette Walls clearly states this in the novel, The Glass Castle, when Jeanette faces many hardships and adversities in her life and wishes for a fresh start so she moves to New York to start over. An individual who grew up in a childhood full of hardships will be more motivated to become a successful person in their future. In an individual’s life, adversities can affect the way you look at your future of your current situation. In the novel, The Glass Castle, Jeanette and her family faced a problem when the bill collectors would come after them because Rex, Jeanette’s father, would fail to pay because of financial problems. Instead of getting money and pay for their bills, Rex decided to do what they called the “skedaddle” and run from them. This showed Jeanette what kind of a person Rex was because he avoided all the situations in his life rather than coming to his senses and paying them. Jeanette hated doing the skedaddle because right when she was settled into their new place, they would have to leave after a short period of time. Jeanette wasn’t like her dad, she was the total opposite. Jeanette faced her problems unlike Rex who ran from them. The skedaddle was one of the adversities Jeanette faced in her childhood and changed her viewpoint of approaching problems like this.

Hope is the starting point of bringing change into an individual’s life who has dreams and aspirations of becoming something else. In the novel, Jeanette and her little brother Brian wish to move out of the Walls family house to New York. After facing all the problems they have had, the both wish to bring change to their life. Jeanette and Brian both start depositing money into their piggy bank that Jeanette bought from the store. The money they collect would go towards their expenses on their journey to New York. Rex is the main problem they face because when he had run out of money, he smashed the piggy bank on the ground and took all the money inside. Jeanette and Brian’s hope to move out of their house has taken a step back because of their father Rex. The adversities that they are facing are extreme because whenever Jeanette and Brian have a hope or a dream, it gets crushed by somebody. Falling down and getting back up is something that Jeanette and Brian do in order for their hopes and dreams to come true. Eventually, Rex pays them back and their hopes are back on track.

Everybody has a dream in their life whether it be to move somewhere, be something, or to do something. In the novel, Jeanette has finally taken a bus from the Walls family house to New York. She goes to school for a bit and ends up finding a job as a journalist. Eventually, all members of her family end up also moving to New York or somewhere close by. As time goes by, Rex passes away, Brian gets a job as a cop, and Jeanette finds a husband and lives with him on the countryside but still goes to her office once a week. Jeanette and the Walls family have been through a lot of hardships and adversities in their past but overcame them and now live without them. Jeanette has came from being a little girl who lived in poverty for most of her life to becoming self-sufficient and working hard to get to where she is today. The hops and dreams have come true for her due to her hard work and dedication to become something from nothing.

The Walls family has been through some rough patches and somehow been able to overcome them. The problems they faced had a big impact on how successful Jeanette is today because she realized how hard it was to live in poverty and she needed to hustle and grind in order to live a normal life. Dreams, hopes, and aspirations all do come true if an individual is dedicated enough and is willing to put in hard work to achieve it.

 

Category: Harman | LEAVE A COMMENT
January 11

Do Not Lose Hope- Literary Exploration

Do Not Lose Hope

“…the idea that hope is an important quality.”

 

  Hope. It is what one feels every day of their lives. Hope that their day will be good. Hope they pass the big test. Hope they succeed. Hopes for a better life. Without hope, an individual would have nothing to look forward to, and what kind of life is that? In the book, The Glass Castle, hope is an evident theme in regards to the Walls family. It is especially what the kids are forced to rely on, due to the poor living conditions entrenched on them due to extreme negligence from their parents. Through all the negativity, Jeannette, hopes that their family will find stability and normalcy. In The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls asserts that when an individual sustains hope in their lives, they will find positivity through all the negatives, therefore, even after being enlightened that hope does not always work out, they will depend on it to achieve a better quality of life.

 

  Hope is the whisper of desires in reality. Without hope, there would be no motivation to continue living life, because a life without aspirations, is a life not worth living. Rex Walls introduced the idea of hope to his family so they would have something to look forward to when times were especially rough. As a child, Jeanette idolized her father and believed he could do no wrong, even though he constantly lets down the family. She is introduced to the idea of The Glass Castle, and the prospector, symbols of hope that life will get better.  The Glass Castle is a mansion made of glass that Rex promises Jeanette he will build for the family, the prospector is a machine that Rex would use to fund the glass castle. In her early stages of life, no matter how many times the family moves into homes that fall apart, and battle with aching hunger due to the shortage of money, Jeanette always looks forward to the Glass Castle. “All we had to do was find gold, dad said, and we were on the verge of that, once he finished the prospector and we struck it rich he’d start work on our Glass Castle.” Jeanette is reflecting on the empty promises that her dad allowed her to believe in. These ideas gave Jeanette false hope of her future, as she believed that they would not be poverty stricken for too long, but as time goes on, Jeanette became dependent and attached to the Glass Castle as the answer to all the problems the family has faced, therefore, when the Glass Castle is not built, she is confused and faces an identity crisis. Without the Glass Castle, Jeanette does not know where life will take her.

 

  Without clear motivation for the future, an individual will feel stress and panic as they try to grasp onto the things that once provided them with hope. When Jeanette is older, and the construction of the Glass Castle has still not made progress, she becomes enlightened that this is yet another one of her father’s empty promises, and he will not give up drinking to support the family, therefore, she takes matters into her own hands, and attempts to build the Glass Castle with her brother, Brian. The family is living in Welch, under horrible conditions. The house that they live in, Little Hobart Street, does not have indoor plumbing, nor electricity. They have no food, no new clothes, and nothing good in their lives. Sick of reality, Jeanette once again, turns to the Glass Castle for the hope of a better life. Brian and Jeanette configure that the construction of the Glass Castle has made no progress, therefore, take matters into their own hands and start digging a hole for the foundation of the castle. It takes them several weeks to dig a hole deep enough, but when revealed to Rex, he ignores their silent pleas of a better quality of life and suggests that they use the hole as a garbage disposal. By using the “foundation” of the glass castle as a garbage disposal, Rex has revealed his true intentions. This scene is extremely significant to Jeanette’s life, as this is the first time she has the realization that the glass castle represents the illusion of life getting easier, and Rex does not plan on making it a reality. With this sudden enlightenment, Jeanette realizes that embedding the idea of hope with the glass castle has been a “figment of her overly active imagination,” and decides that she will find it somewhere else. One who lives in the dark, and is influenced by the beliefs of others, will find great differences in life when they are enlightened and able to view things from different perspectives. With knowledge, one is able to pursue limits that have no end.

 

  Hope should not be intertwined with an individual, because humans let down one another very often. This is the conclusion Jeanette makes, as she makes plans to leave to New York after graduation. Jeanette has a newfound hope in her life, except it is not dependant on her father to come true, but on herself. She hopes that in New York she finds a better quality of life without her parents. She abandons the family values Rex and Rosemary have taught to their children, and only then, is when she is able to find happiness and success. Before leaving to New York, Jeanette confides in her father of her plans, he again tries to make her stay by bringing out a blueprint of the glass castle. In the past, Jeanette had been a victim of her father’s manipulation and negligence, but now, Jeanette disregards Rex’s silent pleas of Jeanette staying home, and follows what her heart desired. This scene signifies the true growth and development Jeanette has adopted. From being the impressionable daughter who had always believed in her father, and stuck by him, to leaving home shortly after graduation to pursue what she believes is right for her. Once she sees perspective in her own way, she is motivated and unstoppable. This is how Jeanette is able to desert her family values and find success in New York. Upon reaching New York, she worked hard to provide for herself, and balanced work and school, which was the opposite of her parents would have done, exemplifying her divergent identity. Jeannette Walls is now a world known writer to her infamous book, The Glass Castle, and has found huge success through her strong belief in hope, which was initially introduced to her from her father, but made a reality due to her resilient nature.

 

  The Glass Castle expresses the important constant of life, which is hope. Hope provides motivation towards life’s greatest problems, such as poverty. Jeannette Walls asserts that when an individual is introduced to the idea of hope early on in their lives, they will lead with said aspiration, therefore, eventually achieving success. Jeannette Walls faced many setbacks in her life, but it is hope that life will get better, that allowed her to eventually succeed. Hope is the cause of her happiness, hope is embedded in her aspirations, hope is the better life she desires.

Category: Sept 2018, Zainab | LEAVE A COMMENT
December 3

My Identity

Identity

         At my age I don’t know what my true identity is and I feel like when your life is all said and done then others truly realize what you meant to the world and what your identity is. As a kid in high school I start to think about what i’m going to do in the future but until it happens I will never be sure about what’s going to happen in my life. I want to be a lawyer but when I get older and gain more wisdom I will realize what I want to become and when I die that will be a part of me. Most of my cousins are becoming lawyers and that’s why I chose to pursue that and sometimes I think to myself that being a lawyer is not truly who I am but there’s money in it. I’ve always loved electronics and because of it I feel my true identity is to become a software engineer. At school we are always told to do what you love and that will make you happy and I somewhat agree with that because if you’re doing something you love and it’s paying you a good amount then I say pursue it but if you’re poor and doing something you love then I feel you will have much more problems in life and it’ll make you depressed. In my case I find interest in being a lawyer and it pays good so it would be a great choice for me but becoming a software engineer is risky because it might not work out so I think that pursuing it would be a waste of time if it doesn’t work out well for me.

“Nobody truly knows or appreciates you until it’s all said and done” ~Anonymous

What this means is that when you’re alive you’re just another human but when you’re dead then everyone realizes how much impact you had on their life and that’s why many people mourn over others death. There’s many examples of this such as rappers because when they are alive people just listen to their music and never look into what they are going through but when they die they post all over social media and start appreciating them. The reason people do this is because everyone is afraid of death and when someone else goes through it they want to show their condolences to their families and show that the person that has passed was important.

Image result for success pictures

The Psychological Mindset for Success

        What this picture means to me is that you don’t realize your highest point in life until you’re dead and that’s why the man on the top is a shadow. The reason I think this is because your life can change instantly without even see it coming such as winning a lottery or getting framed for a murder. You know it happened but you wouldn’t see it coming. Things like this change what people think of you and eventually changes your identity because the experiences you have in life shape who you are as you grow older.

 

Category: Robin, Sept 2018 | 1 Comment on My Identity
October 30

Steps to Success

“Don’t complain, just work harder”

-Randy Pausch

 

 

Complaining is a commonly expressed by individuals who are unsatisfied because they were presented with unfavorable circumstances. When individuals are complaining their motivation towards a goal decreases and they may feel these obstacles are too much for them to overcome. It is a form of self-pity which is completely useless when it comes to the succeeding and Randy Pausch recognizes this. Randy expresses how you should just work harder towards your goal in order to succeed because complaining won’t get you anywhere. Failure is a common source of complaints so if you work harder you will have a higher chance of success which will ultimately lead to less complaints. Failure is inevitable and one will always be presented with difficulties but it should motivate us to do better instead of leading to self-pity.

I have learned through first-hand experience that complaining is a complete and utter waste of time; however, when I do complain, I’ll remember those excuses and when try harder and complete whatever goal I have, and then I will know for next time that complaining didn’t help me get anything done. A particular experience was over the summer of 2017, I was playing basketball with a friend and our goal was to train all summer to be the best we could be for the basketball team. He was more experienced so I became his follower and I would do every drill he told me to do but at first I never saw the point of running around when I could stay in place. I’d complain about why I was running around so much and he’d tell me to just suck it up and keep going, eventually I stopped complaining and I started to just work harder and persevere which led me to improving a tremendous amount more than I thought possible and it was because I decided to work harder instead of making excuses for myself.

Image result for working hard

Time is very valuable, successful people recognize this and the number one thing they share in common is that they don’t complain. Complaining is detrimental to success due to the fact there may others you are competing with who are taking the right steps by not complaining and this better use of time will ultimately be the difference between you reaching your maximum potential of success. Competition is very common in our society and to win and do the best you possibly can you should cut out the irrelevant things which don’t benefit you and use that time to achieve more than you thought was possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category: Jashan, Sept 2018, Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 26

“Don’t Complain,Just Work Harder” -Randy Pausch

Complaining can be simply defined as a lack of hard work.This is what I have learned and applied over the course of my life.Complaining is the typical reaction when one does not achieve the anticipated results. Working harder towards achieving a goal has more benefits to it as you are probable to learn something on the journey to achieving that goal.If instead you choose to complain, your motivation could be killed which can make it  harder to get back up and continue on. Complaining can be seen as an excuse for hard work and putting effort into achieving your goals.Working harder will better your work habits and will better prepare you for future challenges, whereas complaining would put an immediate halt on your journey to success.

https://yourstory.com/2018/05/10-motivational-quotes-that-show-success-comes-to-those-who-dont-shy-away-from-hard-work/

This quote makes me recall a time when I was 12 years old. I was on a soccer team and my coach made us do laps around the soccer field for the last half of practice. Everybody,including me, was complaining when he told us about his plan. We ran the laps for the last half of practice and we learned that the running that we do at practice goes towards helping us improve our performance and endurance in the games. I learned from that day that working harder is a better alternative than complaining and that I was lazy to work hard and looked for an easy way out of that situation. If I had not done the running on that day, I would not have learned the benefits that comet with it.

Champions never complain,they are too busy getting better

-John Wooden

 

This shows that working harder instead of complaining is more beneficial and can help you later in life if you realize the value of it. Complaining can be very costly in terms of success as it is an obstacle that stands in your way and prevents you from becoming successful. My dad always used to tell me that a successful man never complains and I have taken this into account and always encourage others to not complain and to get the job done instead and move on. Work hard and don’t complain because in the end, the successful one always rises to the top and conquers.

 

Category: Sept 2018, Sukhvir, Uncategorized | 1 Comment on “Don’t Complain,Just Work Harder” -Randy Pausch
September 23

This I Believe- The Power Of Determination

Ever since middle school I’ve tried to stay determined and focus on my work and started to believe that determination is one of the most important factors in success and even failure. I started to believe in determination in when I heard Michael Jordan’s story of how he was cut from his basketball team back in high school but that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the best basketball player of all time. Determination has helped me in life and has been helping me get the success I hope to get.

“I Believe Success Is Achieved By Ordinary People With Extraordinary Determination.” By: Zig Ziglar

This quote by Zig Ziglar has inspired me a lot because if tells us how anyone can achieve success but it all depends on their Determination. If you look at the most successful people of the world they all have extraordinary stories and tell us how much effort it took them to get to the top and how much determination you have to show to get it your way. Determination is like the ladder to success without you can’t expect success just to come to you.

The last time I saw this in my life was last year when I took Chemistry. The first semester I took chemistry very lightly and slacked off thinking I’ll be fine as long as i just did the homework but the teachers told us that only doing the homework won’t be enough you will need to put in extra effort in reviewing all concepts. When the semester came to an end I was not happy with the results that I had gotten and realized that I didn’t put enough effort into that class. The next semester I decided to take Chemistry again but this time I was studying way more, paying attention in class, doing my work on time, making sure I did a lot of extra work to get the marks i wanted. That ended up showing me how important determination is for success.

This is why I believe in the power of determination. We shouldn’t expect success unless you know you’ve been working hard for it. Individuals work really hard just to achieve success because they know nothing will happen if they just wait and hope it comes to them.This might not be the only thing I believe in but it has changed my life and will continue to help me throughout my school years and life after school.

Category: Razal, Sept 2018 | 4 Comments on This I Believe- The Power Of Determination
September 16

The Power of Failure

 

Failure. The word itself carries such a negative connotation and is often times rejected as much as possible. So much, that we don’t realize the honest and true impact that it really has on us. Failure has the ability to enlighten us about the things that nothing or no one else ever could. It shouldn’t be perceived as a measure of intelligence or as a weakness, rather to test the strength and determination of one’s willingness to persevere. Over the course of high school, my definition for failure has definitely changed.

I treated my failures no matter how big or small as a diversion from my path to be successful. Not as a pinpoint of my journey.

My last chance, rather than an opportunity to grow.

A weakness, not an acknowledgement of my strengths.

A setback, not a motivation.

Fighting all the stress and disappointment no matter the circumstances, reflects how passionate and determined one is to accomplish an ambition they’ve tirelessly been striving for. If I didn’t learn from my mistakes, then I’m destined to revisit them over and over and over again until I inquire the knowledge and the answers from them to move on.

I think I can get  so caught up in comparing myself to other people, that I let myself down way too many times because I just couldn’t meet the standards of those who I wanted to be like. So I tell myself  that I’m not good enough, or it’s just not meant to be in the first place. It’s human nature to be competitive.  But what I have realized the most, is that it isn’t easy or as reachable as people make it seem. If making my mark, or creating a change was that easy, then anyone could of done it. It’s about the willpower, persistence, passion, and perseverance that separates us from the rest.

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

~ Maya Angelou

The summer of 2017 was my last time of doing Tae Kwon Do after 4 years. Martial arts has taught me so much about dedication, and determination. Looking back on this experience, past all the actual physicality of it, I realized it was more about testing my mental strength rather than what I am able to do  physically. I was a red belt at the time, about to get a black stripe, which is 2 ranks before becoming a full black belt. I knew that my training was going to get even more challenging, and harder to endure. I knew I was going to be held to even higher expectations than before. My pre- test before getting a black stripe included a physical portion where I had to complete a variation of tests. One of them was to do 100 burpees in 3 minutes or less. If I had exceeded the time limit, it was an automatic fail. I remember that day not being one of my best. I started this test feeling anxious, and not believing in myself. I felt so much pressure. Mid -way through, I started feeing sick and even lightheaded and so I just stopped, ran out of the class, and threw up. I came back in, drained of energy. My instructors asked if everything was okay. I simply answered, “I’m fine.” And right away they started the timer again, and said, “continue where you left off.” In that moment of time, it felt so impossible. But I continued even though it was slower and sloppy, and didn’t stop until all 100 was done. I obviously didn’t pass, and I became really hard on myself, that I believed if it wasn’t achievable now, what makes the amount of time different. At the end of class, my instructors told me, that it was okay, and that I tried my best, but they told me the most important thing to take away from this, is that even though it was hard, I didn’t give up. And that showed them that I was wiling to try again until I could do it. At this point, it wasn’t even about the outcome, but how I worked harder to get there, how could I prove to myself that I was capable enough, and how I can make myself better. I allowed this “failure” to motivate me, to not only achieve the desired results, but to mentally strengthen my endurance and overall confidence. And that to me, was my ultimate success.

Because of that one experience, I look at how I approach my everyday work differently, in the sense that if it wasn’t a good day today, what can I do to make it better tomorrow.

Success. It seems almost magical. Unattainable even. But at the end of the day it’s about pursuing the greatest fascination in your life even though you encounter many brick walls to make it there.

The most significant lesson I have learned to this day and age, is that failures are inevitable. That the past doesn’t equal the future and that everything does happen for a reason. It’s not about the experiences themselves, but what I choose to takeaway from them.

Category: Sept 2018, Simran | 2 Comments on The Power of Failure
January 11

Polished Literary Exploration – Effects on Us

Effects on Us

Many individuals influence us throughout our lives. Though not all individuals have positive effects on us, we always learn something from their actions. Some of them, we forget lifelong bonds with, and some we wish we never knew. Some people have been an influence on us from the day we are born and other arriving only days before we pass. This idea is demonstrated in the short story, I Beat The Odds by Michael Oher. Oher describes the influence his elementary teacher had on him as a child. As well, this is explored in the film, A River Runs Through It, directed by Robert Redford, where Reverend Maclean, who is a Presbyterian minister in Missoula, Montana, influenced his son Norman’s life and his pathway. These two pieces show how a small gesture from one person can change an individual’s life for the better or worse.

In the excerpt from I Beat The Odds by Michael Oher, his elementary teacher, Ms. Verlene Logan, inspired a young boy. He will always remember her kind and courageous words since she has positively impacted and influenced his life. She helped build confidence and courage in her students through her sweet and gentle words, which taught them to not be afraid of being themselves.  Her words, “Can’t never could and ain’t never would” will stick with Michael Oher till his last breath. She did this because she believed that every student is capable of achieving great things in life, therefore, helping them boost their self-esteem and confidence will only leave a positive impact and influence on the lives of her students. Ms. Verlene Logan always encouraged him to improve upon what he is struggling with and never give up on his sports. She believed that he could accomplish anything he wanted to in life and also be the person he wanted to be only if he believed in himself. The influence she had on him, to never look down on himself or others, will always stay with him. Because of her words and gestures, Michael is now someone who never gave up on his dreams, never gave up in trying to be the best version of him, and never gave up on making Ms. Verlene Logan proud. When someone has such a great influence on you from a young age, you remember them during your greatest successes and you imagine how proud you made them feel, but during your greatest downfalls, you remember the things they told you: to keep going until you reach your full potential.

In the film, A River Runs Through It, directed by Robert Redford, Reverend Maclean has a great influence on his children, more on Norman than on Paul. Norman from a young age has sought for his father’s approval in his life. When Norman returns home after six years of studies, he decides he wants to be a forest servicer, but while talking to his father in his office, he has flashbacks to when he was a young child entering into his father’s office with a piece of paper to get his father’s approval; Norman keeps trying until his father is pleased. At that time, Reverend Maclean is correcting Norman’s writing with a red pen and after many years, Reverend Maclean has this red pen in his hand while talking to Norman in his office to correct his “mistakes” and to get him on the right path. When Norman mentions he wants to be in the forest service, he is seeking his father’s approval. When he doesn’t receive the encouragement, he then mentions that he has applied to universities as a professor in Chicago, and suddenly, the environment feels relaxed. Reverend Maclean has great authority over Norman’s life when it comes to his well being and success. The actions of his father overpowering him influences his decisions and it encourages him to be a better person by choosing a career path that is right for him. Norman definitely feels defeated and powerless about the way his father takes the lead in his life, but he is well aware of the positive effect it will have on him and his family in the near future – the one that includes security, prosperity and a decent quality of life.

Many people have influenced my life, in ways that have helped me become a better person but also in ways I wish I could leave behind and forget. But both the positive and negative influences have helped me become who I am as an individual today. The biggest influence on my life is my best friend, and my greatest strength and weakness: my brother, Sushant. We were the ideal siblings in our town, we never fought, and we never had an argument till a year ago. He is the one person I can be honest with about anything happening in my life without having the fear of judgment. Before we came to Canada, my aunties, uncles and grandparents gave me a little pep talk about obeying my parents and respecting them always, and along with that, not forgetting my roots. But the talk I had with my brother is one that I still recall to this day whenever I am in need of him and he is not here with me physically. He told me to forget everything they had told me and to just “follow your heart.” He told me to not be afraid of judgment or ever think about fitting in with the rest of society since I have enough self-respect to not task for other’s approvals. He promised me that he will be there for me when I just need him to tell me who I am and what I am capable of because. He knows me better than anyone and that is why his opinion matters the most. He told me I will face people who are going to do everything in their power to bring me down because they have and still are trying to bring me down. But because of his words, promises and advice, I am still standing tall and not letting others affect me. He inspires me to be myself and be the best version of me. His influence on me has always helped me, is helping me, and will continue to help me through all the obstacles I face in life.

Once someone has influenced you, it will stay with you forever, whether it is in a positive or negative way. Michael Oher will always remember Ms. Verlene Logan’s words and her advice throughout his life, therefore, he will continue to improve on his abilities. Norman will always be thankful and grateful to his father and his encouraging words, even though at times, his words made Norman powerless and defeated. I will always admire my brother’s words, follow them, and remember them when the sky turns starless and the light turns into darkness. Influences are powerful and most of them will last till our last breath because they help us improve our abilities and they help us become better individuals at the end of the day.

Category: Sept 2017, Suhaani | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 9

Tata <3

You mean the WORLD to me.

Like, rain makes rainbows

In the naked sky

Like, spring makes flowers  

Bloom in the sun

The same way

You made me feel alive

You are a cozy blanket for me in the winter

And a soft breeze of air in the summer

You are the love of my life, my hero, and my guardian angel

My strength and

My weakness

 

My life is dedicated to my best friend, my hero, the man I love most.  He means everything to me. The years where he could reach out and hold my hand have faded, and he only lives on in my memories, my words, my soul.

You know how someone will tell you that you don’t realize the value of things until they disappear? That what you take for granted in the morning is never seen of again by night?  I have never stopped and thought about what I have done to deserve his love,

and his unceasing support. He is someone I have looked up to and will continue looking up to for infinity and more, both figuratively and literally. He is my guardian angel.

I miss him. Maybe I miss him a little too much. I didn’t speak to him every day when he was alive, but I guess just knowing he was there was enough for me to go through my day with a smile on my face.


I miss him because of his smile. I miss the way I could talk to him about just the most random topics on this planet. I miss the fact that he was just there for me. I miss the little gestures he made whenever he wanted something. The way he turned his index finger when he wanted me to turn off the fan for him. The way he played air piano with one hand when he needed the remote. But what I really miss? Love.

He loved me more than a father, took care of me better than a mother, protected me better than a brother and stood by my better than a sister. He never let me feel like I was rejected and unworthy. He gave me a voice, a life and everything I am today or ever will be because of his love and affection. He wasn’t the most educated person in my life but he still taught me some of the life’s most valuable lessons. He taught me to love myself, he taught me to accept myself, he taught me the difference between right and wrong, and most of all he taught me to believe in myself.

He loved me more than I think I will ever love myself. He took me in when the entire world rejected me. It was the two of us against the world and yet I felt the most powerful with him.

I guess that’s the power of love.

 

He showered me with unconditional love. And now it’s something I feel incomplete without, yet I still feel his presence. I still feel him smiling at me from the stars above. I feel empty without him in my life; it was like darkness fell over my life within seconds, to the point where now I am blinded by the light. But I’m learning to live again, to live happily without him in my life and I know that he will always be there for me.


If there is one thing I’m proud of is being called his granddaughter.

Category: Sept 2017, Suhaani | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 9

My Rant on Graduation Night

If I was given the honor of speaking at my graduation about my life this would be my rant.

 

Oooooo man! Never thought I would have the opportunity to do such a thing. Standing here. On the stage. In my grad gown. Standing in front of you all. First of all, for those of you who don’t know me, I’m surprised, but Hi my name is Zaha!

Before I start talking about anything I would like to quote my one and only, Drake, “ Starting from the bottom now we here….” Who ever thought that we would actually make it here. Because honestly I would have never thought that I would be here. I didn’t even think I would get past middle school. But I’m glad I did.

I came to this school in grade 5. The beginning of middle school was rough. But honestly middle school is never easy, and it made me who I am today. Everyone that I met is incredible in some way, but there are on some people that I really connected with. Honestly, there are some people that I just wish I got more of a chance to get to know. But I feel like I’m not the only one who feels like this. Then high school came along. This is a topic that I can talk forever about but I won’t. I will just talk about the main things. DRAMA. DRAMA. DRAMA. I think that’s it. Just kidding. Yea some things happened in middle school, some things happened in high school and are still occurring. But does it all really matter. I don’t really think I’m going to remember the bad things, just the good things. For me its the good times that I will remember. The bad stays where it should be, in its place, in the past. Where it started is where it ended.

One of my friends ended up leaving the school last year. I only got to know her for a year, but we made some great memories together. I still stay in contact with her and whenever we talk it feels like we’ve known each other forever. Together we reminisce on the good times that we had together, with all of our friends. I miss her yes, but I  know that she is happy where ever she is.

High school is where i made majority of my incredible memories and this where I found my TRUE friends. ALLOW ME TO EMPHASIZE THE WORD TRUE. People that I can go to for help. The friends that I can tell anything and know that they won’t open their mouth. The people who can rely on me and I can rely on them. People who can be myself around and not be afraid to be judged. Those people I found in high school and are all my really good friends.  You all know who you are. Thank you!

In the beginning I never thought that high school would be like the movie series high school musical. But in some ways it was. I think everyone can agree with that. However it wasn’t as exaggerated.  

I would like to thank all of you for many things. This is where the list begins. Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for accepting one another. Thank you for accepting me. Thank you for not being fake to my face. Thank you for being some what honest. Thank you for your help. Thank you for standing up for what you believe in. Thank you to all of the teachers you all made learning a lot easier, especially by using Quizlet Live. Learning became a game. Thank you. 

We all are incredibly talented people, and different too. I personally hope to stay in contact with you all in the future. I am hopeful to see us all successful, and I wonder where time will take us all.

 

Category: Sept 2017, Zaha | 3 Comments on My Rant on Graduation Night