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The short story "Paper Menagerie" deeply resonates with me, as it reflects the experience of feeling different from "the other people." My parents immigrated to this country; my dad when he was just five years old, and my mom during high school. English wasn't their first language, but it became mine as I grew up. Unfortunately, I never received proper instruction in speaking Lebanese Arabic, and I'm unsure why that happened. It is a complicated language to learn.

Despite living in Canada, my family's love for Lebanese cuisine remained strong, and we enjoy a wide variety of delicious dishes from our culture every day. However, as I was growing up, my siblings and I often found ourselves asking for more "normal" Canadian food. It reminds me of a time when I frequently asked for turkey dinner on holidays rather than kafta and tabouli, just because I wanted to eat the normal holiday meal like all my friends. Looking back, I now realize how much I appreciate the richness and flavour of Lebanese food, and I would gladly choose it over the more conventional dishes.

I used to consider my heritage as something peculiar, as none of my childhood friends shared the same background. However, as I've matured, I've had the privilege of forming friendships with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Now, I no longer feel like an outsider, and I wholeheartedly embrace my Lebanese heritage. It has become an essential part of my identity, and I take pride in sharing it with others.

As I reflect on "Paper Menagerie" and my own journey, I am reminded of the importance of embracing who we are and celebrating our cultural roots. Through this acceptance and celebration, we find a sense of belonging and learn to appreciate the unique aspects that make each of us special.

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Having the courage, to tell the truth, is an essential aspect of personal growth, but it doesn't always guarantee a smooth outcome. One such instance where I summoned my bravery was when I decided to stand up to my parents about a sensitive matter. Unfortunately, the result didn't go as planned, and it left me feeling disheartened.

It's common for kids to attempt standing up for themselves at least once, and I had my fair share of such experiences. In this particular situation, during my Junior high days, I mustered the courage to confess that I hadn't been entirely truthful about my academic performance. Hoping that honesty would lead to a more lenient response, I gathered my courage to have the conversation with my parents.

However, as the conversation unfolded, my bravery seemed to wane rapidly, and I found myself feeling overwhelmed. It became apparent that regardless of my honesty, the consequences would remain unchanged. This realization dealt a blow to the courage I had initially mustered. Looking back, I can't help but wish that the outcome had been different, but life doesn't always follow the script we envision.

In hindsight, I understand that the ideal course of action would have been to maintain honesty from the beginning and avoid procrastinating the truth. But at that moment, finding the courage to open up was a significant challenge in itself.

The lesson I take from this experience is that despite the outcome not being what I hoped for, having the courage, to tell the truth, is an admirable trait. It takes strength to confront difficult situations head-on, even when we fear the consequences. Although it might not always result in immediate positive changes, being truthful fosters personal integrity and strengthens character.

Moving forward, I am determined to continue embracing honesty and courage in my actions. Each experience, whether successful or not, serves as a stepping stone in my journey toward self-improvement and resilience. The courage to speak the truth, even in the face of adversity, remains a valuable lesson that shapes my growth and shapes me into a stronger, more authentic person.

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Imagination has a dual purpose in our lives, assisting us in dealing with reality but also possibly diverting us from it. Understanding the distinction between constructive and destructive uses of imagination is critical for maintaining a balanced and healthy outlook on life.

Imagination enables us to think creatively and generate fresh ideas, which aids us in navigating real-world circumstances. It enables us to view situations from multiple perspectives and resolve issues. We may better comprehend and relate to people via imagination, which strengthens our bonds with them. In addition, it inspires us to set grand dreams for ourselves, giving our daily activities interest and purpose. Simply said, imagination gives life more colour and enables us to view reality positively.

When our imagination causes us to daydream too much or concentrate too much on fantasy rather than what is actually happening around us, it can cause us to become distracted from reality. It might be difficult to be completely present and involved in our real-life obligations and activities when we spend too much time contemplating various possibilities or scenarios. Excessive daydreaming may sometimes result in excessive overthinking and fretting about hypothetical scenarios, which can add extra tension and anxiety. Furthermore, if we use our imaginations to flee from difficulties or problems in real life, it could keep us from taking the required steps to resolve such problems.

The use of imagination in thought is both natural and beneficial. The objective is to achieve a healthy balance where it enhances your life rather than being a distraction or a detriment, not to completely repress it.

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- After being forced to leave his tribe Okonkwo and his family move to a neighboring tribe.
- Okonkwo wants to keep his titles that he original had and worked so hard for.
-After being hinted at in pervious chapters about "white people"  they come to this new tribe.
-These white people are missionaries trying to spread their religion across Africa.
-The leader of these missionaries is a character called Mr. brown. they went around telling these tribes that their god is fake and the only god that is real in the god that they believe in, in Christianity.
-Okonkwo hates the thought of these people coming in and destroying their beliefs.
-- Mr. Brown is very gentle and soft about how he shows his faith but Okonkwo hates the idea of any religion other than his own being wrong and shoves them away at any time he can.
- Mr. Brown falls ill and is replaced by a character named Reverend James Smith. He takes a far more aggressive approach to the villagers and causes tensions.
-Secretly Okonkwos child Nwoye joins the missionaries beliefs much to the dismay of Okonkwo.
- The tribe hates Mr. Smith and gather outside but will not hit him because it isn't a respectful thing to do in their eyes. However they're not afraid to burn down his shrine
- Enoch is one of Mr. Smith disciples and comes how ready for a fight, however he cannot understand the language the people are saying and cannot recreate a message back.
- The 9 villages gather together to see if they will go to war against the British people and hate that some people left their tribe. They don't want to fight other "brothers" but it must be done.
-Okonkwo being Okonkwo sees a British messenger come towards the group and without hesitation pulls out a knife and beheads the man.
- Okonkwo is shocked that nobody follows his lead with him but vows to get revenge himself. However when we go into Chapter 25 he is found dead, death by hanging/suicide. Obey Rika is stopped by the district commissioner asking for Okonkwo but he isn't their. Obey Rika takes them to where Okonkwo has hung himself.

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I firmly believe that anger can serve as a powerful catalyst for change in a person's life. While sadness may lead some to wallow in self-pity, I have personally experienced that when I feel angry, it ignites a fire within me to strive for improvement. Whether the source of anger is directed at my parents or seemingly minor matters, I channel it as a driving force to prove my point and dispel any doubts about my abilities. Being doubted fuels my anger, compelling me to summon every ounce of determination to prove those doubters wrong. This determination is evident even in basketball games; if I make a mistake, anger propels me to play harder and showcase my true capabilities. However, I do acknowledge that unchecked anger can be detrimental as it may cloud rational thinking, leading to regrettable decisions that worsen situations. Therefore, I concur with the statements made, recognizing that while anger can be a potent force for positive change, it requires temperance to prevent it from leading to adverse outcomes.

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The bond between my dad and me has had its ups and downs. When I was a little baby, I was attached to my mom and didn't want to leave her side. If my dad tried to pick me up, I would cry and shout "not the mama." But as I grew up, I realized that my dad is my father, not my mom, and I will always love him no matter what. Sometimes he gets disappointed in me, but instead of getting angry, he comes to help me and talks to me about how I can improve. Even now, I didn't do my best in my classes at Bishop Carroll. I rushed and crammed all the work into a short time, so my grades weren't great. He knew I could do better and told me that he wasn't impressed with how I managed my time this year. I knew he was disappointed because he knows I'm capable of more. We made an agreement that I will do better next school year. He never got mad or yelled at me, but he knows I can do better than what I showed this past year.

Sometimes we argue about small things or big problems. I sometimes ignore him, but I'm trying to work on that. I've realized it's a mistake to ignore his presence in my life, even for a little while. When I understand that, I start to see his point of view in our arguments. We always find a way to make things right and explain our opinions to each other. No matter what, I know he will always be there in the stands, cheering loudly for me during my basketball games, and I will always love him.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZPsmqOyjgMRTKrfa6Vgj-zhtnj6PC2UrwoM3BgSbLF0/edit

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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- Okonkwo falls into a state of sadness and does nothing but sit in his hut and drink wine for two days.
- One of his wives comes banging on his door screaming that Ezinma is dying.
- Okonkwo goes out and gets plants to make medicine for his ill daughter. This shows that he does care and have a soft spot for his children and family.
- Whenever someone tried to see the daughter he would tell them no and that the daughter was sleeping.
- A trial happens and todays modern day jury is 9 masked elders who even change their voice so they don't know who they are.
- Man says that his wife was stolen by her family and that they're forcing him to pay a bribe to get her back. However people watching the trial say that this man beats his wife almost everyday and that if he wants her back that he should just pay the bribe.
- Later one Okonkwo hears news of EzaWhodo, the man who told Okonkwo not to be involved with the death of Ikemefuna has died. They carry out tradition. Okonkwo is one of the men shooting a gun in the air. However later on into the funeral his guy seemingly explodes and shrapnel goes into Ezawhodos 16 year old son and kills him. Okonkwo and his family are exiled from the tribe, however it is only for 7 years because the killing was an accident.

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I firmly believe that embracing change is essential for personal growth and fulfillment. Without change, life remains stagnant, and we miss out on the opportunity to discover new passions and experiences. I vividly recall how, in grade 6, I unexpectedly fell in love with basketball—a revelation that brought immense joy to my life. However, as life's twists and turns would have it, change soon arrived, and I made a decision that inadvertently brought an end to my happiness. Reflecting on Okonkwo's story in "Things Fall Apart," I saw a parallel to my own experience. Like Okonkwo, I had welcomed something into my life, only to have to let it go to assert strength—similar to what happened with one of my ex-girlfriends in grade 8, causing basketball to fade from my life. Nevertheless, unlike the tragic tale in "Things Fall Apart," I managed to reclaim basketball's place in my life and make it a significant part of who I am. It has brought me unparalleled happiness and remains a massive pillar in my life's journey. Embracing change allowed me to rediscover my passion and reminds me that change, though challenging at times, is a vital and transformative force in our lives.

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The Second coming by William Butler Yeats

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The Second coming by William Butler Yeats

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Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert

A shape with lion body and the head of a man,

A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,

Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it

Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.

The darkness drops again; but now I know

That twenty centuries of stony sleep

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,

And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

The seconding coming sounds like the stories of revelations in the bible. Whenever Jesus returns it is told that the world will end. The tone of the poem is set when the poet says "The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned." It creates an image that even the most loyal followers of Jesus will not be safe whenever he comes back to earth. The word "Second Coming" comes up in this poem a lot and it confirms it is the about the story of revelations at the end when the line goes "Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?"

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- Okonkwo doesn't want to be like his father.
- This dude isn't a normal main protagonist.
- He doesn't like the way his father raised him.
- Okonkwo has 3 wives and multiple children. Is a man who cares about his family but tries to be tuff for the image of the clan, meanwhile his dad was a lazy man who played the flute a lot.
- Is tasked with getting a virgin and a boy from another village. The boy Ikafemua gets close with Okonkwo and sees him as his father.
-Ikafemua gets ordered back to his tribe years later but actually to get killed. Okonkwo gets told to not be involved with his death, however he stabs him to kill him.

Main Characters
Okonkwo - Protagonist
Ikemefuna - Adopted child
Ezinma  - Actual child of Okonkwo
Nwoye - Son of Okonkwo

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How do single stories allow us to construct understandings of others?

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How do single stories allow us to construct understandings of others?

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Single Stories of a person or others helps us make up stereotypes or judgements of people that is untrue. By not being able to explain someone's story it creates a perspective in our heads that is very hard to change afterwards. This is because after only a single story, we view the person in that light only. But if we come to learn a person throughout many stories our perspectives and show a new light where they are allowed to change and grow, and not stuck to be this single figure we view them as.