When I first got this assignment, I was really having a hard time looking and finding a myth, or allusion that I felt could describe my personality best. And it took me a while, but I felt that the ant and the grasshopper was an old tale that I remember clearly. I tried writing with different allusions, but the ant and the grasshopper fit the best. I think that it clearly shows how I am a hard worker, and that I do what I need to. I also felt that if I had used one of the greek gods to be my allusion, people who read the poem wouldn't be able to relate as quickly and easily.
Creating the text was much easier than I thought it would be. I first started by re-reading the ant and the grasshopper. Then I described the fall scene. I chose to write it in third person, so that it would be more like the story. I'm actually happy with the structure of the poem. I separated the two so that the reader can see that in the first portion, I am describing myself, and in the second paragraph, I am describing myself when challenged. And more obviously, the last is the ending, where finally winter does come. When I wrote it, I tried my hardest to add in my beliefs as well. I know that I could revise it to be better, and sound smoother, though.
The graphic part was pretty simple for me. I tried to create the scene in the tale where the ants are gathering corn, and the grasshopper is being lazy just sitting there. I just photoshopped myself in next to an ant, and added a grasshopper just waiting there. I think it was an easy graphic to do to begin with, and I did a pretty good job.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
first draft of this i believe
This I believe essay.
I have this notion that this is my one and only life. I’m a Christian and I love people and I love doing what is right, and all that stuff you hear people talk about. So far in my life, I have been persuaded to do things I didn’t want to do, I have had to obey laws and rules. I listen to my parents… most of the time. I have never done drugs, or drank alcohol, and I hate the smell of cigarette smoke. I have to say that I am a pretty normal child.
I believe in tradition, in preservation of trees, in hope for the future, in peace and justice, in wisdom, in organization, in modesty and honesty, in my family and in my friends, that sharing is caring. I do believe in a lot of things. But like so many people I am not comfortable with everything my life has to offer.
Last week there was a little boy in Safeway who wanted this small package of marshmallow peeps. It was your typical “I want that mommy” grocery store scene. At first, it looked like love at first sight, seconds later he tugged at his mother’s shirt and pointed at it, minutes later, he was yelling for it, the next thing you know he was crying his eyes out and lying on the ground. Out of embarrassment, his mother snatched the peeps and her child to the cashier. And then she turned to her son and said, “Are you happy now?”
That sort of sparked a whole train of thoughts in my brain about what I wanted. It isn’t as easy as “I want that piece of candy” anymore. All of a sudden, I have to think about what I will be doing to survive in life. How I am going to support myself, and my family. If only it could be as easy as “I wanna do this.” Choosing a career in life is one of the heaviest tasks I will have to endure, probably in my entire life. And it has to be the one I will be thinking of forever. There is so much pressure to be the best. To succeed in everything you do. We constantly hear of parents who want their children to be doctors or nurses, or stuck up business people. Just the other day, my own grandmother turned to me and suggested that I become a social worker because her friend once told her that they make a lot of money. And even though I’m still in high school, I can definitely understand where she’s coming from. Or at least I want to.
Everyone wants to be cooler. Everyone wants to be secure. And I have some pity for them if this is what drives them to choose their path in life. Money doesn’t matter, anymore to me. And what other people think doesn’t even cross my mind. I don’t understand why anyone would want to sacrifice a life of real happiness, for a storybook life. A life where he is not even in charge anymore.
I am getting to the point in my life where I have to start making choices about my future now. And I am trying with whatever is left of my heart to hold on to what I know I want. I don’t want to let people, or money, or pressure to be in charge of my decision to be happy. I want to live my life. I don’t want to have a job, and live my life on the side. That may be the glorious life that many others choose to live; to sacrifice everything because they care for someone special, or for selfish reasons that don’t even matter in the end. But that is not what I believe in. I’m not going to have any regrets about that feeling I get in my gut when I’m what we call happy.
I have this notion that this is my one and only life. I’m a Christian and I love people and I love doing what is right, and all that stuff you hear people talk about. So far in my life, I have been persuaded to do things I didn’t want to do, I have had to obey laws and rules. I listen to my parents… most of the time. I have never done drugs, or drank alcohol, and I hate the smell of cigarette smoke. I have to say that I am a pretty normal child.
I believe in tradition, in preservation of trees, in hope for the future, in peace and justice, in wisdom, in organization, in modesty and honesty, in my family and in my friends, that sharing is caring. I do believe in a lot of things. But like so many people I am not comfortable with everything my life has to offer.
Last week there was a little boy in Safeway who wanted this small package of marshmallow peeps. It was your typical “I want that mommy” grocery store scene. At first, it looked like love at first sight, seconds later he tugged at his mother’s shirt and pointed at it, minutes later, he was yelling for it, the next thing you know he was crying his eyes out and lying on the ground. Out of embarrassment, his mother snatched the peeps and her child to the cashier. And then she turned to her son and said, “Are you happy now?”
That sort of sparked a whole train of thoughts in my brain about what I wanted. It isn’t as easy as “I want that piece of candy” anymore. All of a sudden, I have to think about what I will be doing to survive in life. How I am going to support myself, and my family. If only it could be as easy as “I wanna do this.” Choosing a career in life is one of the heaviest tasks I will have to endure, probably in my entire life. And it has to be the one I will be thinking of forever. There is so much pressure to be the best. To succeed in everything you do. We constantly hear of parents who want their children to be doctors or nurses, or stuck up business people. Just the other day, my own grandmother turned to me and suggested that I become a social worker because her friend once told her that they make a lot of money. And even though I’m still in high school, I can definitely understand where she’s coming from. Or at least I want to.
Everyone wants to be cooler. Everyone wants to be secure. And I have some pity for them if this is what drives them to choose their path in life. Money doesn’t matter, anymore to me. And what other people think doesn’t even cross my mind. I don’t understand why anyone would want to sacrifice a life of real happiness, for a storybook life. A life where he is not even in charge anymore.
I am getting to the point in my life where I have to start making choices about my future now. And I am trying with whatever is left of my heart to hold on to what I know I want. I don’t want to let people, or money, or pressure to be in charge of my decision to be happy. I want to live my life. I don’t want to have a job, and live my life on the side. That may be the glorious life that many others choose to live; to sacrifice everything because they care for someone special, or for selfish reasons that don’t even matter in the end. But that is not what I believe in. I’m not going to have any regrets about that feeling I get in my gut when I’m what we call happy.
Monday, March 9, 2009
interview [journal]
(late, sorry)
Q: What are some of your favorite things like mottos you like to tell people?
A: I don't really tell people any mottos or things like that.
Q: what is the most important thing you want me to remember always no matter what?
A: I want you to remember what you want. In choosing a what you want to be when you grow up, you cannot let the world dictate who you want to become. Don't let money, or even the people you love steer you away from your goal. Because I'm 21, soph, and I am already forgetting what I want. It would really make me angry if you did something you hated. It really sucks to have a job and be living life with your spare time. instead, live your life doing what you do. Live your life always. Don't be afraid.
[interviewing Stephen Agustin]
Q: What are some of your favorite things like mottos you like to tell people?
A: I don't really tell people any mottos or things like that.
Q: what is the most important thing you want me to remember always no matter what?
A: I want you to remember what you want. In choosing a what you want to be when you grow up, you cannot let the world dictate who you want to become. Don't let money, or even the people you love steer you away from your goal. Because I'm 21, soph, and I am already forgetting what I want. It would really make me angry if you did something you hated. It really sucks to have a job and be living life with your spare time. instead, live your life doing what you do. Live your life always. Don't be afraid.
[interviewing Stephen Agustin]
Thursday, March 5, 2009
allusive poem 2
when she woke up this morning, the air was cooler.
she saw leaves the color of rust, and a thick layer of foliage on the ground.
she saw that she could slack off, and waste away her time,
but instead she got to her work.
she has a hard shield around her, it keeps her strong.
it repels distractions,
it protects her from harm.
you can push her off course,
but only for a while.
She is a force to be reckoned with when she is
pressed for time.
she is mindful of her insignificance,
But really, she knows we’re all part of one team, one mind.
She will never give up, and she will not look behind.
it is hard to watch him have so much fun.
but fall is almost over and there is lots to be done.
she holds a certain amount of pity for him,
as he frolics in the sun.
but with time, she, will be
given the chance.
for now, though, she is focused, and when time comes,
she will not be abashed.
for anything she needs, they are right in her hands.
And finally when the first snowflake falls,
She looks at him straight in the eyes
Offers him a kernel of corn,
and refuses to laugh.
“It is humbleness that makes us true.
It is what really pulls us through.”
she saw leaves the color of rust, and a thick layer of foliage on the ground.
she saw that she could slack off, and waste away her time,
but instead she got to her work.
she has a hard shield around her, it keeps her strong.
it repels distractions,
it protects her from harm.
you can push her off course,
but only for a while.
She is a force to be reckoned with when she is
pressed for time.
she is mindful of her insignificance,
But really, she knows we’re all part of one team, one mind.
She will never give up, and she will not look behind.
it is hard to watch him have so much fun.
but fall is almost over and there is lots to be done.
she holds a certain amount of pity for him,
as he frolics in the sun.
but with time, she, will be
given the chance.
for now, though, she is focused, and when time comes,
she will not be abashed.
for anything she needs, they are right in her hands.
And finally when the first snowflake falls,
She looks at him straight in the eyes
Offers him a kernel of corn,
and refuses to laugh.
“It is humbleness that makes us true.
It is what really pulls us through.”
Monday, March 2, 2009
draft 1 of allusive poem
when she woke up this morning and saw the rusted foliage,
it was time to work.
she saw what could be, and instead chose
what should be.
"preparation is key."
she has a shield around her, to protect her from harm.
you may push her off course,
but only for a while,
for she knows what's to be done.
at the very same time, she is aware that she is small.
she is an insignificant significance.
but she will never give up.
it is hard to watch him have so much fun.
but fall is almost over and there is lots to be done.
she holds a certain amount of pity for him.
even as he frolicks in the sun.
but with time, she will be given the chance
to scoff and to laugh.
for now, though, she is focused,
and when time comes, she will not be abashed.
for anyting she needs,
they are right in her hands.
it was time to work.
she saw what could be, and instead chose
what should be.
"preparation is key."
she has a shield around her, to protect her from harm.
you may push her off course,
but only for a while,
for she knows what's to be done.
at the very same time, she is aware that she is small.
she is an insignificant significance.
but she will never give up.
it is hard to watch him have so much fun.
but fall is almost over and there is lots to be done.
she holds a certain amount of pity for him.
even as he frolicks in the sun.
but with time, she will be given the chance
to scoff and to laugh.
for now, though, she is focused,
and when time comes, she will not be abashed.
for anyting she needs,
they are right in her hands.
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