Thursday, May 26, 2011

Prompt #11

How do people come of age in different parts of the world? How do our surrounding and upbringing influence this?

     Our surroundings affect our point of views on the world. How we look at it. What we think about it. Who lives on it. By who, I'm not talking about their gender or race, but more of their personality and how they act. Of course race can act as a part of how you view the world. Growing up, however may change it. As a kid, you may feel limited to one place. You're too young to travel outside, especially alone, so you're stuck in the same neighborhood with the same people. Each neighborhood is different. What I've noticed is that, people who are alike tends to live near each other. Growing up has made me realize, there are others out there that are way different than me. Others that think completely than me. Depending on your surroundings, you might grow up to be a brave kid who always fights for yourself, or someone who completely depends on others. Growing up, that might change, or it may stay the same. That's the thing about growing up. You never know what you will end up like because your thoughts are always changing. Your views are always changing when you discover something new.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

A Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

     Growing up is basically what most kids, especially teenagers dream of doing. They wish for freedom and independence. However, they also get things they don't want such as responsibilities. Growing up, would mean going through changes. Doesn't have to be physical, but anything really. For some people, growing up isn't easy at all. Having to go through the pain and obstacles in growing up is very hard. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, shows the readers the pain in growing up. This book shows how Holden views the world, and let's just say it's not so pretty.
     Wanting to grow up is like wanting to change. You don't like something about yourself, and suddenly wanting to get rid of it. You want a change in your life, because of whatever happened in the past possibly. Lots of people feel that way. I definitely feel that way. Holden on the other hand, "the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like." Now does that sound like he was happy back then? I'm not saying he's happy now, but there are certain moments in the past that you just want to forget.
In the beginning, Holden Caulfield shows that he is a very bitter person. It shows that he is troubled, and needs help. It seems like he hates his life. It seems like he wants to forget what happened in the past.
     Holden is not the most appropriate person... the way he talks, it sounds like he's never proud of anything. Which reminds me, I'm not referring to emo people, or naming anyone, but haven't you walked down the street and see someone that looks really depressed, always cursing, and not caring about the world? "They were these little hard, dry jobs that you could hardly even cut." This quote shows that, he's always finding something to complain about. I'm not saying that he does, but it seems like he gets pleasure from looking down at everything surrounding him. Not only that, but I've also noticed he tends to say damn a lot.
     As you're growing up, you realize new things you want to do in life, and new thing you don't want to do in life. You have new goals, yet you have things you want to avoid doing. Holden dropped out of school, and doesn't want to go back, thinking everything there is phony. He thinks EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE is phony. Now looking at that, aren't there times in your lives where you look at a person and go "wow, they are so fake"? To me, it seems like Holden does that at everything he sees. "All those Ivy League bastards look alike. My father wants me to go to Yale, or maybe Princeton, but I swear, I wouldn't go to one of those Ivy League colleges if i was dying for God's sake." He's having a hard time getting along with people. He's having a hard time "fitting in", which is what a lot of people try to do growing up. He seems like one of those who just gave up on life thinking there's no point of living.
     I agree with Holden, and his views of the world. Certain times in my life, I just want to give up. I didn't want to live because everyone out there is phony, and will just keep messing with me. You can call it bulling, annoying or whatever. They're doing something I don't like, but to them I'm probably doing something they don't like. Even though I do agree with him, it is not 100%. Not everything is phony to me, and I believe there's a purpose of life. Growing up isn't easy nor fast. There are things that will change your mind about the world. You'll discover many things even if you don't want to.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Coming of Age

Object - Picture

     As a little kid, before my father moved to New York, my family and I would always go on vacation every few weeks. I enjoyed my life as a kid and didn't want to grow up. I can't say that I NEVER wanted to grow up because certain times in our lines we wish to be what we are not. Anyways, looking back at this picture, it reminds me of the good old days when my brother and I were like 2 peas in a pod. I loved him very much, more than I do now. It hurts to think about how often we would argue now that we have "grown up". I would always follow him around, play with him, watch all his favorite TV shows, and share each other's food. Now, it seems almost impossible. Without my brother, I don't know what I would of ended up like.

Object - my hair ^^

     In Thailand, and most Asian countries, kids were not allowed to dye their hair, except if possibly international schools. some countries didn't allow you to wear or cut your hair certain ways. In fact, its not even just kids, but pretty much anyone who's still in school, not counting college. Apparently Thailand was one of those countries. My hair was my natural color, and it was even bobbed. Now that I moved to America, a country with so many freedoms, I feel like i was raised a little differently than I was "supposed" to. To me, changing my hair is not a way of rebelling against my parents, but more of enjoying my new freedom. Do what I wasn't to do, considering I never know when I will be forced to dye it back. Not only that, but I feel that, as an Asian, it is necessary to dye my hair. JUST SAYING. It's who I am. I am willing to go through all of the pain of dumping chemicals on my head just because I want to.