Similar Teachers

       In the short story “Gryphon”, a unique substitute teacher, Ms. Ferenczi, comes to sub in Tommy’s class. She is wild, eccentric, and knowledgeable. Ms. Ferenczi tells her class many stories and myths, which leaves her students curious and wanting more. She gives them freedom to imagine and does not limit their creativity. Ms. Ferenczi is also very creative and her teaching style is intriguing to the students, unlike a normal boring teacher. She reminds me a lot of Mrs. Hill, my second grade teacher. Mrs. Hill was no ordinary teacher. She always inspired us to think outside of the box and she told us to never settle with something we don’t understand. She wanted us to imagine. In her classroom, she had a pet rabbit. The rabbit always radiated positive energy and lightened the mood of learning. When Ms. Ferenczi’s came, the first thing she did was draw a tree on the board. A tree represents peacefulness. The tree in her classroom brought positive energy, much like Mrs. Hill’s rabbit.

The Blinder Man

      In the story “Cathedral”, we can examine how Bub changes whenever the blind man comes to stay with him and his wife. The blind man, Robert, is a close friend of the wife because she used to read to him. Bub is not at all attracted to the idea of the blind man coming to live in his home. Before his arrival, he would make snarky comments to his wife about Robert’s blindness. Even though Bub can physically see, he lacks insight and self-awareness that makes him even blinder than Robert. Bub is socially awkward and doesn’t mesh well with other people, including his own wife. He doesn’t take the time to get to know her.  They are hardly even a couple. However, Bub is jealous and bitter at Robert and his wife’s relationship. At the beginning of Robert’s arrival, Bub remains quiet with not much to say. When the wife decides to go to bed, Bub and Robert are forced into conversation. To limit all awkwardness, Bub and Robert talk about the cathedrals because there is a show about them on TV. Robert reveals that he has never seen a cathedral, causing Bub to attempt their description. Robert eventually asks Bub to draw one with him, which turns into a self realization. Eyes closed, Bub draws the cathedral as Robert asked. This small act of drawing leads to Bub having an epiphany. For the first time in a while, Bub feels uplifted rather than empty. He is inspired. He takes a deep look into his life and realizes that there is more to life than shallow relationships and getting high. After this drawing, Bub finally sees for the first time.

Sharecroppping 101

         Sharecropping is an agricultural system in which a landowner allows a tenant farmer to use the land in return for a share of the crop produced on the land. The landowner in return would provide the farmer with food, clothes, and other necessities. This method was created in the South after the Reconstruction era and lasted until the mid twentieth century. Sharecropping was intended to benefit both sides of the deal. Farmers were encouraged to stay throughout the harvest season so they could rely on the landowners for food and supplies. However, the farmers were never given the chance to move up on the socioeconomic ladder. The landowners would benefit from receiving the crops from the harvest. Eventually, there was tension between the harvesters and the landowners. Throughout the story, “Barn Burning”, Abner Snopes and his family switch from owner to owner because Abner cannot contain his anger causing him to burn down all the owner’s barns. The Snopes family constantly goes through this cycle. This horrendous cycle is really hard on the Snopes family because they can never settle down. Sarty, one of Abner’s sons, finally cannot put up with his father anymore and decides to leave the family at the end of the story.

Martha's Meaning

      Martha is Lieutenant Cross’s love, motivation, hope, and reminder of his life before the war. She never leaves Cross’s mind, which isn’t always a good thing when it comes to fighting. Cross carries her letters, pictures, and a lucky pebble that she sent him. He daydreams about her more than anything. Martha signs all of her letters, “Love, Martha”, but Cross knows this is not the love he desires. Martha is hope for Cross’s future when he comes home. She is his motivation and his reason worth fighting for. Before the war, Cross and Martha would go to the movies. Cross even kissed her outside of her dorm once. Some of his memories haunt him because he wishes he would have “been brave” or made a bigger move. However at the end of the story, Cross makes the decision to get rid of all her letters, pictures, and even the stone. Cross does this to commit to the war and step up as a leader. No more Martha means no more daydreaming and no more distractions. From this point on, “when he thought about Martha, it would be only to think that she belonged elsewhere.”

Maggie Knows Best

      In Alice Walker’s short story, “Everyday Use”, the character Maggie is more in touch with her heritage than Wangero. Wangero is Maggie’s sister, whose real name is Dee. Wangero is trying to learn more about her heritage and where she comes from which is why she claims to have changed her name. Wangero says, “I couldn’t bear it any longer, being named after the people who oppress me.” However, the name Dee actually goes back many generations in their family. By changing her name from Dee to Wangero Leewanika Kemamjo, Dee is disrespecting her family’s heritage and portraying that she isn’t in touch with her family’s history. Dee also wants the quilts that have been passed down to hang up on her wall and preserve, which is not the right use of the quilts. Unlike Dee, Maggie knows how to quilt. Quilting is one of their family’s traditions and hobbies. Everyone in the family including the grandmothers, the mother, and Maggie, all know how to quilt. Dee’s lack of knowledge for quilting adds to the point that she knows little of her family’s culture. Maggie is more in touch with her heritage than Dee.

Dear Mom

Dear Mom,

      I am sorry that I wasn’t the perfect child you always wanted. I know it must have been hard for you to lose everything in China. I can’t even imagine what that must have been like. But, growing up was hard for me too. Sometimes the pressure to be perfect got too much for me to handle. Now that I am older, I understand your reasoning for pushing me so much. You simply just wanted me to try my best at whatever I do. Although at the time it seemed like a lot to ask, I am glad that you had faith in me. I appreciate you giving me the piano. After practicing a few of my old songs, I’ve come to realize that I wasn’t so bad after all! With more practice, I could actually become pretty good. Anyways, thank you for always putting your faith in me, even when I couldn’t find faith in myself. Thank you for also opening new doors in my life and introducing me to things I never would have considered without your encouragement. I love you so much and I am sorry for the rude things I said when I was younger.

            Sincerely,
            Your loving daughter

Letter From Sammy

Dear Mom,

        Today I decided to quit my job at the A&P. I know this won’t make you happy; in fact, it will most likely make you upset. But I’m not sad one bit. I did this for myself. During my shift, three girls came in to the store wearing nothing but swimsuits. One in particular caught my attention. She was so beautiful and different from any other girl I have ever seen. I know you are probably thinking that this doesn’t mean much because I am a teenage boy. But this girl was different. Anyways, this girl made me realize that I am so much more than a cashier at a grocery store. She is probably out living some glamorous life while I’ve been working at this dumb store being a nobody. I now have this desire to seek out new opportunities and let go of any limits that I have previously put on myself. I want to start a new life. I know it will be hard and there will be many struggles, but that is how life goes.

Your Son,

Sammy

                                                                                                              

Future Runner

       Drink a lot of water; limit the sodas and candy; eat healthy; always wear your hair up, out of your face; never dress uncomfortably or in something that prevents you from reaching success; this is how you tie your shoes tight; this is how you warm up; this is how you stretch properly; listen to your coach, they are wiser than you are, no matter what you think; run hard in practice; don’t be lazy like the kids are accustomed to failure; push yourself; when times get hard, pray and push through; God gave you legs for a reason, use them; don’t brag about your success because everyone has potential to be great; this is how you get a good start in a race; this is how you finish with everything you have left; always congratulate your teammates and opponents; strive to be better, there is always room for improvement; run for the freedom, not to please others; do it because it makes you happy; don’t complain because of the early morning practices, they scheduled then for a reason; give your body rest when it needs it; take care of your injuries; take a lot of ice baths, you’re going to need them; never give up; never be satisfied-there is always competition; run fast; run hard; have faith in yourself; always try your best because that is all that matters.