Do Success and Happiness Depend on the Choices People Make Rather Than on Factors Beyond Their Control?

   I believe that the two are obtained separately. Success and happiness do not come in one package; they differ quite a bit, meaning they are reached differently, oftentimes at an unpredictable rate and frequency.
   Success more so than not is something beyond one's control, especially based on who the person is, what their background is, and where they come from. Additionally, the choices these individuals make can affect their future more or less. For example, a really big issue which stimulates the likelihood of somebody's success is society and its stigmas. People of color all over the world are heavily marginalized based on their ethnicity, thus making them less likely to be successful because of their lack of privilege. White people, on the other hand, have a much better chance at living the dream because they are accepted and respected virtually everywhere, taking prejudice out of the picture. White privilege is often denied by most white people, and they feel as if they earn success through hard work. Contrarily, it's a 180-degree turnaround. People of color have no choice but to work twice -even thrice- as hard as white people to achieve certain successes. For example, I am an African-American individual. I am automatically predisposed to be unsuccessful in the parts of the world that have accepted white supremacy as their norm. I cannot go someplace like Hong Kong, where a white man can visit without speaking a lick of Chinese-- the natives will speak their best English for him, and they will accommodate him in every way possible. If I dare to visit, I will not have the privilege of speaking my native tongue; numerous accounts of black people have stated that Hongkongers refuse to even talk to them, and any mishap will immediately be blamed on themselves. As and African-American, I am subject to offensive behavior in a lot of places. This is just one of many ways that people of color cannot have pleasant things without hard work.
   Happiness, on a lighter note, can be obtained by the choices we make. Our decisions hold great power in both the short and long runs of our lives. The good decisions, of course, will yield the rainbows we seek. However, even the littlest mistakes can attract a rainy day. For example, an optimistic approach to everything is a tactic which saves a lot of grief and misery in one's everyday life. A line from one of my favorite songs, "Blessings", by Laura Story says, "What if your blessings come through raindrops; what if your healing comes through tears?... What if trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?" Those words put a positive outlook on everything in life. It makes you stop to think, "Wow, things could be a lot worse for me." Because truly, it could! This kind of thinking helps us become more grateful for our moments in life, making us overall happy people.
   Now, these are just my experiences, so I'm positive that other instances may differ from my answers. It really is in what you make it, success and happiness. Your choices will affect both, but greater factors will only inhibit or open more opportunities of success and happiness.

Can Books and Stories about Characters and Events That are Not Real Teach Us Anything Useful?

   Books are always a story; no matter what genre, there is something to be told. Many novels are very imaginative, and quite bluntly, unrealistic-- fiction, to be precise. However, there is a thing or two to learn from them, at least. While these stories can be outlandish and irrelevant, they all carry a message for the reader. Now, this question remains-- is the message useful? Well, maybe. It depends on the plan the author had in mind.
   One book which tells an impeccable story, yet teaches an eye-opening message is Life of Pi by Yann Martel. The story contains so many virtually impossible events, but the story, as Pi said in the novel, can make you believe in God. In a nutshell, his life was full of unfortunate events, and on his journey across the Pacific, he described so many beautiful and terrifying things --tigers, meerkats and a carnivorous island-- which one would never venture to see. However, in his case, it seemed so real-- how could anyone deny it? The story he told was indeed impossible, but after hearing a more rational take on Pi's journey, which one could anyone prefer? The fantasy, or the reality? This is useful, because it opens people's eyes to how religion is, in a sense. Irreligious people may have a hard time fathoming things that can't be proven or backed up with evidence, but other walks of life carry spontaneity beyond wonder. Christians believe in the resurrection of Christ, and God alone. Many Hindus believe in the story that one could see the universe through Krishna's mouth. Islam became a religion because of Muhammad's visions about Allah. We find these stories everywhere, and billions of people follow these practices. But which one do we really want? Something that takes faith, or something more tangible? Just something to think about. 안녕!

Writing Zone Piece

   Sometimes, our human lives are full of events that we only can see best in poetry. The properties of poetry act as a portal to understanding daily experiences and once-in-a-lifetime phenomenons. Poetry's anatomy consists of of the cherished lives of people-- those who see the figure not only get a glimpse of something so beautiful, but also something to remember the effect the poems give on the reader, namely "Firework"and "Hot and Cold" by Katy Perry.
   A poem can nurture one's brain with ideas of experiences all people want to see, like Katy Perry's "Firework". The poem sends readers on an adventure through literary devices. The most profound kind in "Firework" is is simile. When Perry says, "Do you ever feel like a plastic bag," the reader subconsciously grasps the sensation of a light, flowing object so powerless. They experience the instance Perry wanted everyone to feel. Poems like "Firework" are the kinds that lure the reader with figurative language.
   Another poem by Katy Perry, "Hot and Cold", discusses the indecision and bipolarity of a friend through juxtaposition. The reader will see "You're hot and you're cold...yes and no..." and many others just to sample the confusion and anxiety sparked in the song. It gives the reader a roller coaster ride, so to speak. The reader will also find in "Hot and Cold", a paradox when Perry says, "...You don't really want to stay, no... But you don't really want to go-o". The two statements contradict each other, just like the whole song is all about.
   Literary elements are the key ingredient to making a meaningful poem, especially stemming off a personal experience. They enhance the poem so much; it is never a plain story. The creativity always mesmerizes the readers, and poems will continue to do just the thing by the unique language they possess.

Commentary on "If"

   I read a very nice, interesting poem. It felt as though Kipling was speaking to someone, rather than it being just a poem with rhymes and a heartfelt message. While it sent a message, the delivery was a bit like a lecture. The elements of the poem "If" were so secular-sounding and the speech was so modern; I never would have guessed that the poem was written over a century ago. At first, I really thought a slam poet wrote this. The rhythm at which I read it seemed so hexagonal --I don't know-- and topsy-turvy, making it so hard to believe that "If" was written such a long time ago. I find it real interesting how each stanza presents a different issue: the first stanza with chaos around, the second stanza with maintaining patience and dignity, the third on self-control, and the fourth promoting balance in every situation. The thing which tickled my fancy was the allusion in line 24 of "If": "Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'" It reminded me of the Holy Spirit, the One who sends jolts to my spirit to lead me where I go, much like the depiction in this poem! This poem encouraged me to think of how I would raise my children. I felt challenged to figure out how I would approach these kinds of issues and how to cope with them. The nice thing about "If" is how correct it is-- the message sent was respectable; nothing disturbed or offended the right things to do. In this day and age, millions are forgetting how to, in this case, be a good man-- or person in general. It seems as though back then, parents raised their children in ways that would make them successful and smart. Nowadays, parents are isolated from their children, and kids learn all by themselves and make their own decisions that aren't always smart. "If" has a great message for today's society, but the pity is that the message is put into less action than it ever has been. Apparently, nobody cares that their children are faced with self-doubt, and that they have no support system. Nobody takes into consideration that their children have goals for themselves, but they know no limits and give their hopes up only to fail and have no faith to get back up and try to achieve those dreams again. Nobody encourages perseverance for their kids; there is no concern for dignity. Nobody factors in that they have a son to raise, and that he is at risk of becoming a slouch due to lack of exhortation. This generation needs more of "If", because of all the value it has to give, especially is a day and age that struggles with want over morality. The thing about "If" which made it so inspiring was its truth throughout a whole century, and longer. After reading the poem, I saw influence for many people. If I saw the influence, others saw it, too!

Commentary for "Ain't I a Woman"

   The way Sojourner Truth wrote her poem made so much sense. In the time she was in, she struggled so much with rights alone. She hardly even existed as a black person, let alone a black woman. Because of who she was, she never experienced the life she deserved. All she did was work hard and hard, with no breaks. Giving birth to children, seeing them go, working in fields like crazy for hardly anything at all, and serving white people who gave no clue what it felt like to be treated as an animal. Sojourner Truth persevered as a black woman, because she had hope even in the midst of her troubles. She believed in God even when He seemed distant. She had faith in the fact that she would have peace one way or another. Although life brought her down time and time again, through every high and low, up and down, pro or con, good or bad, Sojourner Truth held true to the fact that she was a woman, and that she could do all things through Christ who gave her the strength to "turn the world right side up". She made inroads in society; she made a name for herself. Sojourner Truth stood as a beacon of light and hope for all African Americans during that time, and even today. She proved that black woman were not the worst, and that they were just as inspirational as anyone else. Sojourner Truth never let anyone look down on her, even while she was a slave. She had so much confidence, despite the surrounding struggles. During her time in purgatory, when all said "no", God in her said, "Yes!" She could care less that some white man told her to get down-- as far as Sojourner Truth was concerned, she was not ashamed, for the Lord was on her side through every thick and thin, whatever the weather, no matter what. Sojourner Truth carried all the fruits of the spirit every day, just by looking at the lines of the poem. Without them, she would not have been able to take all the horrid things of her life. Sojourner Truth worked very hard for the dreams she wanted, inside her bounds and out. She wanted to work for her kids' well being. She wanted to work for the good that was in her future. But above all, she wanted to work for all the Lord did for her. Sojourner was grateful for her life, because as merciless and dark as circumstances were for her, she was dedicated not to give up to the pressuring tease that she was a useless black woman. She was determined to defeat the lie which set her, and many other women, back many miles. Sojourner Truth ran back all her miles not just to finish the race this time, but to win it. She did not want to hear she could not do it, because in her heart, mind, soul and spirit, she could do whatever the heck she wanted to do.

TP-CASTT for "Ain't I a Woman" by Sojourner Truth and "If" by Rudyard Kipling

TP-CASTT~~ Ain't I a Woman

T-- Title~~ A woman talking about her gender

P-- Paraphrase~~ Sojourner Truth is fed up with all the misery in her everyday life; the racism, slavery and sexism irritate her so. She talks about all the hard work she did, and all that happened to her during that time-- working in fields, being mistreated by white people and having 13 kids, seeing most of them go into slavery. She remembers men telling her what she could or couldn't do, and all she had to say to those words were that she was a woman, and she could fix trouble if she wanted to.

C-- Connotation~~ Throughout the whole poem, Truth sounds very upset and passionate.

A-- Assonance~~ Line 6 contains "mud puddles".

S-- Shifts~~ Lines 5-7 sounded sad compared to the rest of the lines. i.e. "Nobody ever helped me into carriages..." in line 5.

T-- Title (in-depth)~~ "Ain't I a Woman" means Sojourner Truth, as a woman, has seen and done many things most think women are incapable of doing.

T-- Theme~~ "If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down, all alone, together women can ought to be able to turn it right side up again."

TP-CASTT~~ If

T-- Title~~ "If" sounds like a wistful thought.
P-- Paraphrase~~ "If" is a whole poem about a man lecturing his son about what it means to be a real man. It takes patience and dignity from all the world to be a man. It takes self control not to let things get the best of him to be a man. It takes perseverance to finish what he starts to be a man. It takes balance to be a man, too.
C-- Connotation~~ "If" sounds very serious and stern for the most part.
A-- Assonance~~ In line 8, there is "look too good...".
S-- Shifts~~ The last stanza of the poem is rather happy and hopeful. i.e. "And-- which is more-- you'll be a Man, my son!" in line 32.
T-- Title (in-depth)~~ "If" is about the capability of being a man.
T-- Theme~~ Manhood starts with balance.

Past, Present, Future = Truth

   How does the past, present and future lead us to the truth? Well, it simply depends on the truth. The truth hits us in many ways and forms, and people find it in multiple different situations. As a matter of fact, I would quite honestly venture to say that the truth leads to the past, present or future, because even though the truth lies in any of those three domains, we have to find it. The truth will not come to us, unless we seek it out from the past, in the present, or to the future. On that note, the past, present or future does not lead us to anything; they only influence the truth, kind of like an environment. All three bearers of the truth act as a home for the truth to live. They all carry potential for anything, and those happenings could always impact the truth in several ways, depending on whether or not good or bad gets a grip on it.
   When in the past, the truth will change our lives at small or large-- it relies on the type of truth. Since the person could not find it in time, the truth sat back and stopped following its owner, so to speak. When the person reunites with the truth, the result cannot be changed. The present either affects the person internally or externally. A truth affects someone internally by portraying a secret, or one's state of mind. Externally, the uncontrollable situations like weather or society could affect people. I would also like to point out that society doesn't always tell the truth-- its presence and effects do, though. The future truth confuses everyone, because nobody experienced it, yet. However, I have observed the future reflects the past, and oftentimes, we find the truth in the future based on our prior knowledge. If someone sports a fiery demeanor whenever provoked, we can infer the someone will express the fiery demeanor we know and love the next time they get agitated.
   As I said before, we do not find the truth in one piece, nor does it just miraculously look the same for us every time. In other words, the truth conducts a lot of reactions. What ridiculousness if we reacted to all news the same way. In Oedipus Rex, King Laius heard the prophecy about Oedipus, his son, killing him and marrying his wife, and he became furious and wanted his son killed. Would he want  Oedipus killed if he found out about a simple lie about him stealing candy, or about him agreeing with his choice to go take a walk in the town? Probably not. The truth does not always cook up the same outcome-- its recipes vary in flavor, and we may or may not like the taste of the truth.
   So, the truth in a way leads us to our past, present and future, based on the outcome of the news. Because the truth may live in three different environments, the probability of reactions, life, or even finding the truth itself proves unpredictable and inevitable. I find it awkward how confrontational the truth looks in this suit, though. On a lighter note, the truth should not represent a monster. It only aids, prevents and confronts all tenses. It deep down inside wants to protect you, and set you free of any deception or bondage you end up in.