Tuesdays With Morrie Reaction

         I thought that Tuesdays With Morrie was a very interesting book. It was written by Mitch Albom who was a former student of Morrie. Morrie was dignosed with the disease known as ALS. Morrie had a very busy career as a sports journalist. He had first heard of Morrie's illness when he saw him being interviewed on an episode of nightline. Mitch feels guilty for not keeping his promise to Morrie to keep in touch after graduation. Regardless Morrie is thrilled to see Mitch and they start discussing things about death. Mitch takes notes during each visit so that he could someday write a book about his beloved Teacher. 
       
        I really enjoyed reading Tuesdays With Morrie. It was really easy getting to know Morrie and Mitch. I really enjoyed the conversations that they both had together because the topics were interesting and something i hadnt really thought about indepth before. *SPOILERS* When Morrie died at the end of the book I felt sad for Mitch because I too have lost someone that was close to me. When my Grandparents passed away it was a very difficult time for me. I was really close to them and it was difficult not having them around. I thought that Mitch's idea to write a book in rememberance of Morrie was a great way for people to remember him. Even after death Morrie will continue to teach people and have an influence on the people reading Mitch's book. 

Values of Life

What value do you hold most dear and why? Was this taught to you did you determine this as important yourself? How will you carry on that value throughout your life?

 

        The value that I hold most dear would be my family. Family is the most important thing to me because they are the ones who know you the best and are the ones who are always there for you. I believe that the value of family can be both taught and determined by you as an individual. People are taught when growing up the importance of family and how they look out for each other. They learn to place the need of their family before other values they have. A person can also reject that idea and say family is not important or has no value. They can decide that their personal values come before those of their family. For example if a person does not like their family then it would be considered below other values.

        I believe that I will carry the value of family throughout my life. I will do this by carrying on my families beliefs and traditions. When its time for me to start a family of my own, I will pass my values down to my children. Then, it would be up to them as to what they decide is dear to them and if they want to continue holding onto those values. I have many values that I hold dear, but  my family definitely comes before the rest of them.  



Groundhog Day Reaction

        How does someone make meaning out of their life? When does life have meaning? In the film Groundhogs Day, the main character Phil Grapples answers these questions after reliving the same day over and over again. At the beginning of the film, Phil can be described as a very self-centered person. However, by the end of the film he has been changed into a completely different person.
        Phil has been given the chance to make meaning out of his life by reliving the same day over and over again. At first he spent all of his time doing all the things he wanted to do. He would ask people questions which would give him an advantage the next day. He used this in an attempt to get his co-worker to fall in love with him. He would do everything each day until he got it right, but he never was able to. Eventually Phil couldn't take it anymore. He thought that the only way to stop reliving the same day was to kill himself. He tried many times only to end up waking up in the same bed on the same day. Tired of attempting to stop the inevitable, he began to get to know the people around him.
         It wasn't until he spent some time to get to know this elderly homeless man that Phil learned what the meaning of life was. He walked past this man everyday acting like he had nothing to offer when he actually had plenty to spare. Phil finally decided to not give the man money, but to treat him to a large dinner. The elderly man ended up in the hospital after and passed away. The next day Phil attempted to save the man's life by giving him mouth to mouth. It was no hope though. You can't stop death. Phil took this pretty hard and began using his gift to help others. It didn't matter what it was Phil was ready to help. He saved a little boy falling out of a tree, helped a car full of elderly women when their tire went flat, and saved the mayor when he was choking on his dinner.
        Phil woke up the next morning for the first time with it not being groundhog's day. It wasn't until he learned that life was all about helping others and being kind towards others. Reliving the same day changed Phil's life for the better. He had a new appreciation for life and was willing to put other's needs before his own.
 

Whale Rider Reaction



 



     The Whale Rider is the story of a young girl named Paikea who becomes the leader of her tribe called the Maori. Throughout the story she has to face many challenges involving the traditions of her people. Typically the leaders of her tribe are male and Paikea is the first of her family to break this tradition. Paikea's grandfather, Koro, searches the tribe for the new leader in an attempt to save his people. Paikea, against her grandfathers will, completes the tasks that he gave to the boys to become leader. This angers Koro because it goes against their tradition. By the end of the movie Paikea proves koro wrong and becomes the new leader of the tribe.
      I really enjoyed watching this film. I thought that Paikea was a character that was easy to relate to because She did everything she could to make her family proud; even if it almost cost her her grandfather's love. One thing that i thought was portrayed well in the film, was how important tradition was and how even traditions can change over time. Throughout the film Paikea went against tradition to prove that she was supposed to be the new leader of her tribe. She became the first woman to be leader in her tribe. I believe that tradition is an important part of family. Overall i enjoyed the film and plan on watching it again soon.   

The Horse Dealer's Daughter

     
        How to read like a professor is a strategy used to break down stories and find the symbolisim behind the events occuring. Using this strategy, i was able to break down some events in the story The Horse Dealer's Daughter by D.H. Lawrence. In one of the sections my class focused on, one of the main characters named Mabel attempted to kill herself by walking into a pond and drowning herself. Another character named Jack Fergusson, a doctor, goes into the pond after her in an attempt to save her.
         When Dr. Fergusson pulls her out of the water Mabel feels like a new person. She is no longer depressed, but instead falls in love with Dr. Fergusson. This event can be described as being a baptism. Mabel is submerged in water and in a way is reborn into a new person. She no longer has the desire to kill herself, but to be with Dr. Fergusson. This is only one of the many events in this book that exemplifies the how to read like a professor strategy.   

Start Blogging

Why is it, or why isnt it, appropriate to share one's opinion with others?

 

 

         I believe that it depends on he subject being talked about. If i have no knowledge about the subject i would be less likely to share my opinions. If i knew more about what i was talking about i would have no problem sharing my opinions. It also depends on the type of person you are talking to. Some people are very open to other people's opinions while others tend to regect other people's ideas and opinions. The same idea as before applies to this. The more i know the person and the subject, the more i would be willing to share my opinions with them.

         The reason why starting a blog for me would be a good thing, is because it allows me to post about things that i care about. I can share my opinion and connect with others who agree with or share these opinions. Getting feedback from others will not only help improve my writing, but will help me see other's opinions on the subjects i post about. This blog is only being started as a project for school, but i feel that it may turn into a future hobby.