Looking Back

I am now 57 years old and can't believe how far I have come. I started out my life as a quirky young man fearing the road ahead, but now that I have reached about the halfway point of my life, I realize how successful I am. I have a successful job as a doctor, and still do fun things that I always loved to do, such as singing or playing on the piano in my free time. But most of all, I still have a strong connection with my family, and I am proud of them as they are of me. That is the way I am defining success: as the inner joy and overpowering through the struggles that I had to overcome. A successful life I have led, and hopefully I will be more successful as time continues to slip away as more and more of my hairs turn gray. 

What Am I?

Lifted from the rightful home of the side pocket of his backpack, I am lifted to quench this man's thirst. As my top lid gets opened and cool cool water runs through me, I suddenly feel lighter. I am losing what once made me complete. Then once I am finished, I am thrown in the recycling with all the other types of my kind. Maybe this time, I will not be finished and be placed in the col cold world of a refrigerator, but then again, most likely that will not happen. Just another day, knowing my destiny as a water bottle.

Heritage: Old vs. New

When it comes to heritage, it is not a question of who your people were, but yet who you are. In the short story "Every Day Use," the character Dee comes back home, somewhere in the South, looking very "african." Her hair is tall and her clothing is filled with bright colors that can be described best with the word loud. Also, her jewelry was very lavish and it is almost like she was taken out of African royalty. Upon returning home, Dee asks to receive the families quilt opposed to her sister. Her argument for this is that she deserves it more because she is more in touch with her roots. But in all truth, she was the one not in touch with her heritage. Maggie was more in touch with who she was because she was not trying to be someone that she is not.

So this raises the question of what heritage is. Is it the past of your nation or your personal past? It is probably a combination of both, but it does have to be primarily based on your own personal past because that is who you are. At the end of the day, you can try and try to be someone that your not and you will fail every time. This is what Dee refuses to recognize. As much as she wants to make it seem like she is is not touch with her heritage, in all truth she is diverging from it which makes her a failure and thus not deserving the quilt.

An Inauguration to Remember

Today, the first African American President was sworn into office. Mr. Obama takes on the task of handling an America filled with problems that could be considered even worse than when FDR took office in 1932. I thought that the inauguration was handled greatly. Aretha Franklin gave a wonderful performance, and Obama gave one of the best speeches he has ever delivered. He provided my generation with a modern vision of MLK Jr's "I Have A Dream" speech. This inauguration is a crucial point in America's history. The African American population feels like they have arrived into this country. Also, this is the epitome of a democracy: a peaceful transfer of power from one leader to another. Lastly, this inauguration means that change will happen in this country. For better or for worst, it will happen. But regardless of your political views, you have to admit that this day, January 20, 2009, is amazing and historic for America.

Shhhh...Don't Tell Anyone!

One time, I found out a secret about my friend. He confided in me a truth about himself that gave me a different view of him and also scared me for his health. Immediately after learning this awful truth, I began to lose sleep. I stopped eating and my parents became concerned that I was getting ill. I also felt alone and I didn't know who to talk to. Also, the guilt of me not telling anyone made the scenario even worse and since then I have vowed to not hold secrets because I know what kind of effect it has on me.

My New Year's Resolution

There are many things that have to be accomplished in my life. I think that I can improve my life both socially as well as personally. One thing that I really want to achieve over the course of this year is to get into the seven year medical school program at Sackler Academy. I really want to be a doctor and I want to learn in the same place my mother learned. This school is located in Tel Aviv, Israel and blatantly, I just really want to get in. The way I plan to achieve this goal is by continually doing well in school as well as doing well on my SAT's. I believe that if I study a lot and work hard, my resolution can be achieved.

Snow by Naomi Shihab Nye

Once with my scarf knotted over my mouth

I lumbered into a storm of snow up the long hill

And did not known where I was going except to the top of it

In those days we went out like that

Even children went out like that. 

Someone was crying hard at home again,

Raging blizzard of sobs

I dragged the sled by its rope,

Which we normally did not do

When snow was coming down so hard,

Pulling my brother whom I called by our secret name

As if we could be other people under the skin. 

The snow bit into my face, prickling the rim

Of the head where the hair starts coming out.

And it was a big one. 

It would come down and down for days.

People would dig their cars out like potatoes.

How are you doing back there? I shouted,

And he said Fine, I'm doing fine,

In the sunniest voice he could muster

And I think I should love him more today 

For having used it.

At the top we turned and he slid down,

Steering himself with the rope gripped in his mittened hands.

I stumbled behind sinking deeply,

Shouting Ho! Look at him go!

As if we were having a good time.

Alone on the hill.

That was the deepest I even went into the snow.

Now I think of it when I state at paper

Or into silences between human beings. 

The drifting accumulation.

A father goes months without speaking to his son.

How there can be a place

So cold any movement saves you.

Ho! You band your hands together,

Stomp your feet. 

The father could die!

The son!

Before the weather changes.