Parting is such sweet sorrow

1) I think the best thing about the essay (and I suppose this applies to everyone else as well) is that it is original. Everyone sees things in a different light and I just try to shed my own light onto everyone to show them my perspective. I think the real difference with fiction is that with an essay like this, we try to emulate fiction which can be hard to do with a real life experience. I think that the personal essays real show what someone has learned/experienced from their lifetime and how it has shaped/affected them now. I think of my essay as just one chapter in the book of my life and no one else will ever be able to write it like me.

2) Reading is essential in writing because of what you learn. With the outside perspective of other writers and also their critics, you are able to learn many things from reading such as a writing style, how something is told/explained, the imagery, the themes, symbols, and also where the writer is coming from/why they wrote this. Many film directors strive to be like their idols, the best directors that they wish to model their style after. I think the same really goes for writers, striving to become the best and also may homage to the greats of literature.

3) I think that the poetry unit/poems that I wrote were the best pieces I have ever written. I feel a sense of more emotion that is involved in poetry in comparison to actual stories. I don't have a single poem that I was especially proud of, but most of them I felt really expressed how I was feeling and thinking at the time. I think that I really have poor skills in writing short stories, mostly I feel that in comparison to an actual novel, everything has to be rushed in a few pages in order to convey a point. With a novel, the reader is able to feel the downfall of the hero, feel the joy of their accomplishments, and understand and wish for the life that only exists in stories.

4)
coke
unknown
both
both
neither
neither
NYC
unknown
unknown
well technically SK (Korea)
unknown
5) not aladdin, not cinderella, not snow white, and not jungle book. I don't know where from there though.

Boring Title (cont.)

2. I think one news event that has had a large impact (mostly on the US in comparison to me) is/was the Iraq War. Frankly, I don't see the justification in this war other than to get rid of a tyrannical dictator, of course. But having done this, I see no more justification in being in Iraq when there are many other problems (dictatorships and threat of nuclear weapons) in places such as Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan, and also the Al Qaeda itself. A key issue for the future politicians of this country (specifically presidential candidates) is their strategy for the "war." "What can be done" and "when will we leave" are two questions that politicians need to answer. However, I think that it is more important to find out what the people of this country believe to be as part of the solution for this "war on terror." Yes, politicians should come out strong and have a strong sense of what they want done and how they will/can accomplish that, but in a democratic society, the voice of the people is what counts. And no, this does not suggest that the President should ask the random guy off the street what he thinks of the war and do what he says. And as an "under-the-counter" sort of issue, I believe that if this war was partially (or solely) for oil, how come the price of gas is still climbing and possibly could be more than $5 a gallon within the next 20 years? If this war was for oil, how come the american people aren't reaping any of these benefits?

3. Frankly, I don't believe in goals for specific reasons:

A) I don't want to accept the responsibility and obligation to myself in completing something (especially when I decide to put it off for later in the year). I mean, yes I do intend to graduate from school and be off to college in the coming fall, but as far as specific things that I want to accomplish, complete, or even attempt, I have no such list.

A.5) Again, with responsibility and obligation, the sense of failure can only be a consequence with something, I dare to call, so trivial. While I was in a large rutt for some time, I didn't see any light at the end of the tunnel and thusly, thought nothing of my future. My philosophy on goals became "have no goals because if you don't complete them, there is no dissapointment." Still being a rut (different than before), I still wish to live in the present rather than plan and schedule for the future. Also, part of my reasoning is that with plans/goals and a set time for things, something will go haywire at the last moment and I'll feel a sense of failure and dissapointment in myself more than anyone else and thusly sink deeper into a rut. I still believe in my "have no goals because if you don't complete them, there is no dissapointment" philsophy because "life is a game and we are the gamblers", meaning that we have to life as it comes and not expect, wait, or plan for anything. Just take life one moment at a time. "Every passing minute is a chance to turn it all around."

Boring Title

1. I pretty much live by four different principles that are some of the reasons behind my actions.

A) Never rat on your friends-Whenever someone is to blame, never be the anchor that brings everyone else down as well. It's what I live by and thusly gets me in trouble in more than others. The reason as to why I live by it is because when a finger is pointed, it doesn't help to keep pointing. I just end the game and just say I acted alone.

B) Don't take any crap from anyone-Pretty self-explanatory I think. I live by this because, as blunt as the principle may seem, it really says "stand for what you believe in." I believe very strongly in independence and the right to free anything pretty much.

C) Live without regrets-Simply that if you spend too much time dwelling on your mistakes, then nothing will be accomplished for the future. Also, I believe in living without regrets because it creates a sense of liberation in you that shows that you really have nothing to lose when push comes to shove.

D) Honesty-As simple as it may seem, I think honesty is still one of the most important things that helps you get through life and can sustain a friendship (or any relationship) for a long time.


2.