Essay #2 1st Draft

Society Weakens Individuals

 

Many times we have to hide our identities because of

criticism from the people surrounding us. There are periods in which we may feel isolated to hide our inner selves because of the outcomes that may arise. We always have a choice, things can be done in one way or another. The barrier that separates them is the obstacle that we have to overcome. Never change yourself to fit into society. At the end everyone has a different perspective, and the people that accept you for your flaws are the ones worth being around.

Furthermore, in “Call Me Crazy But I Have To be Myself”,

by Mary Seymour, she demonstrates the situation she is facing of being bipolar,  has sudden mood swings. Every now and then she has the thought of revealing herself to others, but she is intimidated by their actions. The different thoughts that invade her mind only discourage her to do what she pleases. I yearn for people to know me-the real me-in all my complexity, but I’m afraid it would scare the bejesus out of them (Seymour 130). Seymour finds herself in a very drastic unpleasant situation. She is afraid that she might get discriminated against or lose some of the relationships with people she is close to. Yet when she meets someone with the same disorder of being bipolar, she reflects into them and views things from a different angle. All she wants to do is then reveal herself to the world without changing their attitudes toward her. She struggles in trying to be normal.

In addition, in “Night Walker” by Brent Staples it clarifies that he

has the disorder, insomnia, where he can’t sleep during the night. Most of the nights he decides to take walks. Since he is a colored man the people in his society see him as a threat. For example, the women will hold on to their purses just to make sure that he won’t try anything. Staples is a well educated young man that has never given trouble before. After the reactions of the people he decides to fit in and cover who he really is. He has seen that in many cases some of the colored people have been part of multiple incident, such as, being mistaken for robbers, or burglars. They have been falsely accused and he doesn’t want to be another victim and put his life at risk.

As a result, we may hide under various rocks, but the

crystals reflect who we are. We cannot run away or hide from the complications that may arrive into our lives. Society always manages to change us in certain ways in order for us to be able to fit in. We may not be comfortable with the decision, but sometimes it’s these little actions that will harm us. Many times people feel alone when they face these types of situations and look for a way to get involved and be like others. Yet sometimes I feel like an impostor (Seymour 130). Seymour feels as if she is being dishonest with her peers because she cannot express herself. Seymour feels tied down to a world full of lies where she cannot speak or act as she would desire.

In other cases underestimating someone may provoke

for their true selves to be set free. One can only take so much from certain people, everything is not what it seems. People have stories to tell and within them there are the small details that one may have to look up to and others that might have to be excluded. There will always be times when one can go as far to where people let them. For example, Staples had to change not because he wanted to, but because of the risks he was facing. Late at night in his walks people thought he was a danger without getting to know him which was unfair.  

“Judgements prevent us from seeying the good that lies

beyond apperances” (Wayne Dyer www.lushquotes.) Many people do not see or are capable of realizing that everyone has a story to tell or their own secrets. It is hard for people to accept the reality specially to tell it.  When they finally manage to tell people about their situations they are criticized.  They believe it is better to join in with the crowd than be different, maybe that’s why some people are less outgoing because of what others might believe. It isn’t easy to trust anyone and confess about their condition. It is more challenging trying to cover up who you really are.

Everyone should have the freedom to be themselves

without being judged based on looks, or personality. Others should understand the reasons of a certain complication in others’ lives not everyone is perfect. We should all be honest and let people know how they are from the beginning. If they do not accept us for who we are then it is their loss. We shouldn’t change our ways for others, they should be open minded and accept the reality that being normal isn’t that great. If we were all the same there would not be any situations like these.

In conclusion, we should replenish our mistakes of

misunderstandings towards other because we aren’t any different. If they truly do care about you then they will not take you for granted. Even if they don’t feel secure around you then they can be honest and tell you. It’s better to know the truth than being lied to and hurt. In life we have to take chances and realize that not everyone will be by our side. The ones that remain are true friends and the ones that don’t have their reasons not to which we shouldn’t judge either. In life nothing is set as stone to keep us distant. It’s all about finding the ones worth having next to as companions who are willing to help in the hardest times.  

Outline For Second Essay

Outline Essay #2

 

“Call Me Crazy, But I Have to Be Myself” by Mary Seymour

• I’m one of the mentally ill.
• An intricate balancing act.
• Only a certain amount of people know she is bipolar.
  • Looks normal.
    • By looking at her one would never know what she’s done.
    • By listening to her one wouldn’t know she received messages from god in her computer.
      • Diagnosed as bipolar.
      • Fell into a period of depression.
        • Just to understand she was bipolar.
        • “I yearn for people to know me-the real me-in all my complexity, but I’m afraid I would scare the bejesus out of them.”
        • Was asked to counsel a bipolar student.
          • Shared stories about medications and psychosis
          • Wanted to prove that her sickness wasn’t meant to have a weakened life.
          • Wants to integrate both sides of her.
            • Own her identity as bipolar.
            • Wants to let others know what she’s been through.
            • She can help others that are in her same shoes.
            • “Fear has kept me from telling my story.”
              • Making people uncomfortable.
              • Viewed differently.

 

“Night Walker”, by Brent Staples

• “A youngish black man-a broad six feet two inches with a beard and billowing hair, both hands shoved into the pockets of a bulky military jacket-seemed menacingly close.”
• A lady was scared of him had bad ideas about his intentions.
• He had insomnia.
• “Where fear and weapons meet-and they often do in urban America there is always the possibility of death.”
• People always thought the worst when he was seen, especially in the evenings.
• He learned to keep his distance from other people.
• He learned that they did not feel comfortable around him, at least until he hummed tunes that were recognized by others surrounding him. 

Failure is the Main Key to Succeess

Failure is the Main Key to Success

 

“Life has knocked me down a few times, it showed me things I never

wanted to see. I experienced sadness and failures. But one thing for sure, I always get up.”(J. Johnson www.searchquotes.com). This quote proves a lot of important points that have not yet been understood by many people. The point of failure is to make stepping stones for yourself to be able to accomplish you initiatives. Learn to be independent and pick yourself up at the worst possible situations you may find yourself in. For example, in Zero by Paul Logan it demonstrates how his early years led to success that didn’t last long, as he would have expected. Logan started in eight grade being a straight A student at the top of his class doing all that he was asked of, accomplishing his short term goals, as he had planned. Later on he moved into a new regional high school were his transformation begun. He did as he was supposed to earn his good grades, but something clicked.

Instead of being congratulated by other students for his achievements

 he began to get bullied. His days at school for being a high achieved pupil were over. All of the words that others said to him, such as geek, nerd, and many more were just the beginning. Soon enough he felt like these words also brought physical problems. It didn’t last long until Logan stood up for himself and transformed. He started to dress differently and treat others that were far worse than him. Logan found a job a job that helped him pay for supplies to fit in with his friends. He dropped form an A student to a C student in less than a year. All he wanted at the time was to be able to fit with the crowd. It wasn’t long after he realized he had much more problems than trying to fit in.

After wasting much of his time with friends that were in some ways

strangers to him, he had the slight chance to get accepted into a four year university.  His first semester in college was a total fail. In high school he had always put other assets before education, such as, a job, car, and his girlfriend. He skipped orientation and did whatever he pleased. Logan thought everything would be similar to high school. Later on he realized that he had started to fall behind and the work he had to finish would be impossible with his new job he now had at a warehouse, Sam’s Club. It wasn’t easy to take a step. At the end he failed his classes and it wasn’t until he felt embarrassed and humiliated again by the same people he had in high school that he thought it was time to transform and be himself. He didn’t want to follow anymore, but be a leader instead.

Logan was able to manage to find another job,

he learned what education was all about, a better future. His friends whom he had fit in actually concentrated in college afterwards while he was still in the wrong footsteps. The coincidence of running into them accidently helped him open his eyes and have a better understanding.  At first it wasn’t easy because he had to take time to comprehend the concepts he had missed learning in high school. It was a challenge, but with the effort he put into it he was able to accomplish it. As a result, Logan graduated with a 4.0 average out of a community college. It took Logan sometime to actually understand why he should keep trying instead of just failing and staying at a certain place.

On the other hand, we have “To Err is Wrong”, by Roger Von Oech

demonstrates that as soon as you know you are failing or making a mistake you should pick your head up and give it another try. It’s about believing in yourself without letting others bring you down. If you think your perspective of viewing things is different than others, you should stick to your method. Besides if you make a mistake you will just have learned a lesson that can be well cherished than taken for granted.

We have learned in school that if we make mistakes in assignments

or other materials that there is always a right or wrong answer. Based on what we answer is how we will be graded. Sometimes others are scared of the outcomes that may result, but there is always more than one way in trying to figure things out, never give up. Oech encourages us to take risks without being intimidated by the results that may appear. He does mention that there may be tasks where we are not required to fail, but they‘re the small ones.  He said it’s better for one to make mistakes in public so you can catch what you did wrong at that exact time.

Logan’s narrative represents von Oech’s concept in action when

he learns that all the time he wasted in high school had its affect later on when he started college. “But even failure, as painful as it is, doesn’t have to be an ending. It can be a learning experience—one that builds strength and gives direction”(Paul Logan 102). Logan understood and clarified what he had missed on since high school. He was able to learn that with persistence he was able to accomplish what he was always striving for, but didn’t have the chance to embrace. As Carl Yastrzemski says, “If you want the hits be prepared for the misses”(Roger Von Oech 88). Von Oech represents Logan’s situation in a sense because it refects how Logan wanted to succeed in college and after dedicating himself to his education he was able to do it.

In conclusion, Logan clarifies for us that failure leads to success

as well as , Von Oeach.  It may seem difficult along the way, but everything has its complex downfalls. It’s worth giving it a try and keep moving forward than to sink down.  Thomas Edison found 1, 800 ways not to build a light bulb. This lets us understand that no one is perfect and we should never give up. He didn’t achieve his goal in the first try, but along the way he fought the problems. Edison might have even found out new things that he didn’t before. He took his experience more of a lesson that a failure and that’s what we should all do and try to inhabit. 

My name is Diana Garcia. I like to play softball and my favorite team i the Phillies.