My Interactive Reflection Journal

Welcome! This site reveals my compositions and IRJ’s as I grew in English throughout the first semester. In here you will find different papers that explaining how I am progressing to master different writing techniques and understand various Literature and Composition styles. As you read through my different pages, you yourself will be able to see my strengths and weaknesses throughout my beginning writings and my current essays. Enjoy!

IRJ#22

You Will Never Beat Me: The Motivation to Success

If I said you could do it, would you try? No?

If I said that you can not do it, then would you be motivated? Maybe?

If I said that you will never surpass your rival, would you drive yourself until you did? Yes?

Really?

Who are you now that there must always be a prize at the end of the race?

Who are you that you must be rewarded or nothing is really worth the effort?

Who are you to say that you try when all you do is blame others for your lack of success?

What has caused you to divert from plain motivation of being the best you can be?

What happened to the time when all you needed were your family and friends to cheer you on?

What made you feel that setting new goals and surpassing your old ones is not reasonable for your effort?

Why do you feel the need to have your title threatened or reputation in jeopardy for your inspiration to set in?

Why do you suddenly feel the need to be the hero when compared to who have shown effort?

Why do you sit lazily for others to do your work because you “can’t”?

How come when I encourage you, you never seem to care, but when I tear you down you try harder than I ever thought you could?

IRJ#21

Gimme More. More. That’s Still Not Enough.

When reading an article on people who are angered with the new iPad, I realized that when people say that generally children are spoiled, adults are too, if not more. My grandparents always tell me how weird the computer is and how technology differs so much from their generation. This never meant much to me, except for the fact that I would never be able to survive without a computer. Neither could they. you. everyone. (this post has neglects cave and tree dwellers who do not even need clothes, necessarily)

I never thought about how lucky I was to have such an advanced technology, that so many others take it for granted. After noticing the way people reacted to the new iPad, I saw how extremely spoiled I am as well as them. How can I ever complain about not getting the the iPhone, or complain how bad the iPad functions, when I realize that I am extremely lucky to be able to have a cellphone as it is? In the high society that we live in, cell phones almost seem required, and the bills that out parents pay just seem to fly over our heads. I would assume that parents would understand that we should never take what we have for granted. Obviously not. Parents are arguing about how the touchscreen is not good enough! I guess we (as in everyone) will never learn. Or will we?

Proposition: Stereotypically, it is the children who are said to be spoiled and ungrateful, when in fact we all are(parents especially). Down to the last baby.

IRJ#20

God Made Men: Then he had a better idea. Way better.

Often in old literature, especially the Bible, even real history, and modern day, women are not nearly valued as high as men. Women, in fact run this nation whether it is visible or not. I am not talking about reproduction because women could not live alone without men. What I am trying to get across is that women ARE as equal or more valuable then men. Men may make the money, but women are the ones that really make it happen. This I mean in any relationship. The man will be the money maker but the woman will be the one out there, socializing, making their family a name. It is not in just that sense, but that woman are often targeted and exploited as the weaker ones, that may be true physically, but not mentally. At all. Women are on the rise, and female success is inevitable as presidents and top company managers are going to turn to the girl side. Women  are stepping up and taking their  rightful place. All this time, women hid in afraid, resulting in the suppression of their own success. Well, not anymore. In the Bible, I noticed that Rebekah’s parents asked her if she would like to marry Isaac. This may not mean very much, but I saw it as a sign that female opinions are growing in value, and soon enough they might just reach the level of men. In the Bible it looks to happening, and in reality, it will.

Just wait.

IRJ#19

Run a marathon. Sky dive. Eat better. Impossible.

When reading a magazine the other day that stated “Your 10 New Year’s Resolutions,” I realized that they were naming such activities that appear to us as life long goals. Their excerpts under each resolutions simply stated, “start planning, put it on your calendar, get ready,” (A Entrekin) in Nike’s words, “Just do it.”

Many of these people may say is impossible, too hard, ridiculous, or use the excuse, “I can’t.” People also believe that if they run that marathon they achieve their hardest obstacle in life. But in fact, even before achieving that goal, they actually learn to surpass the truly hard obstacle in life. Your mental road block.

Many things in life my be viewed as really tough obstacles, but in fact the hardest obstacle is getting in the mindset to do it. If one can get over the fact that they do not need the extra cookie a day or that ice cream is overrated, this mindset will set you easily overcome the “eat better” goal. Running the marathon may scare someone, but if one gets in the mindset “I can,” you will be able to do anything.

I, like many people often believe that I can not achieve anything that does not appear within my reach. But, I find that if I give my all out determination and focus, I surprise myself by achieving the “impossible.”

Proposition: Although there may be many life obstacles that different people may call the hardest, the only obstacle in life is your mindset.

IRJ#18

Blame sparks from the Candle of Guilt

Adam and Eve fill with embarrassment as their eyes open to reality, and the guilt of their actions began to settle. Fearful in hearing God’s presence, they hid. After God became aware of their actions, he demanded an explanation in which Adam swiftly replied, “She gave me the fruit,” and Eve rapidly shifted the attention by stating, “[t]he serpent tricked me.” (Gen. 3.13) & (Gen. 3.14)

When Adam confesses to eating from the knowledge tree, he immediately turns the blame and focus onto Eve. Consequently, Eve admits that she ate it, but puts the fault onto the shoulders of the serpent. Adam and Eve did not have to eat the from the tree. The punishment grew from their own faults of greed and curiosity. Even though one may manipulate the other, the choice still remains one’s own. So even though the Serpent told Eve to eat from the Tree, and Eve gave the apple to Adam, the fault stands in their own hands. Sadly, Adam and Eve refuse to step up and truthfully admit their faults and flaws towards manipulation and pressure so consequently, they become victims to guilt as well.

Adam and Eve, like many people refuse to truthfully take the blame even though they know they are wrong. Even myself sometimes, can not bear the humiliation that I resort to lying to myself and blaming others for my own actions. In fact, admitting fault comes rarely and that only points towards the ranking of values in a human’s mind. For example if one is willing to lie for the sake of themselves, they value their appearance and judgement of others higher and their own honesty.

Proposition: Although humans may always want to hear the truth, they often deny the truth within themselves and blame another for their own actions.

IRJ-QR#17

Loving the Lost: Realizing Worth After Letting it Go

Lyra shivered with the cold wind as she sat alone sinking deeper into her own thoughts. She was finally pursuing her dream of escaping Jordan College for a taste of adventure, but as she ventured on her journey bits of remorse would hit her, for “she longed to be back as Jordan College, scrambling over the roofs with Roger…she wished passionately that nothing had changed…” (Pullman 150)

Lyra always dreamt of adventure outside the walls of Jordan. Finally as she sat upon the ship to the North she began to notice how much her home really meant to her.  Lyra’s situation defines the often heard quote, “you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” (C Urqhart) As she sailed into distant unknown land, she found herself craving her turf, realizing how much it meant to her, and how badly she had judged it for a home.

Everyday life, everyday people, this situation happens to us on a yearly basis if not monthly. A common mistake, people often do not realize their luckiness or advantages until they are taken away. One common motif among daily life is the loss of a loved one. Death after death, many will find themselves wishing they had spent more time with that person or that they should have been gotten to know who that person was.

In the media, there are movies in which parents pressure their children so much to pursue their own dream, that they loose their child in the process. In the movie Ice Princess there is a double story in which this instance occurs. One of the two is the the daughter of the skater coach decides that she will no longer stay on her mother’s leash. Only when the daughter left to lead her own life the mother accepted her mistakes and let the guilt and remorse kick in.

Viewing one’s advantages and seeing how lucky one is, is often hard to find. I for a fact still do not understand how blessed I am. In some sense, as painful as it may be, one must lose a loved one or a loved possession to fathom their good fortune. It is most commonly seen that the one with less appreciates life more then the one who has everything. Someone who is blessed at birth (like us) will only truly value their gifts by going through the agony of loosing one.

Proposition: Take life for what it is worth because time will not stop for you, and you will loose things when you need them the most.