These lines by the Receiver speak to me because I feel that sharing and talking about memories, good and bad, and reminiscing with friends and family is an essential part of our social relationships. If we are the only ones to hold on to certain memories, they will become a painful burden we cannot share.

These sentences from Jonas in Chapter16 illustrated his growth and transformation from blindly following others to independent thinking during his solitary time. It meant Jonas began to think about what really love is and what people should have. This also gave me a profound understanding and a deep sense of empathy. My experiences have taught me that only a person who can learn to be alone, to enjoy solitude, and to have independent thoughts and judgments without relying on anyone else is the true sign of spiritual maturity.

After watching the documentary about the Mennonite community and reading The Giver, I felt a deep sadness for people who live without real choices. I cannot imagine myself in their place.

Jonas’s line in Chapter 13 made me think even more about how frightening it would be to live in a world where decisions are taken away. At first, “sameness” might seem easier, but in reality, it removes individuality, freedom, and the ability to shape your own life.

To me, having no choice is not safety — it’s a loss of what makes us human. This quote helped me understand how important it is to think, feel, and decide for ourselves.

In the community, people never use the word “love.” They replace it with “like,” even Jonas’s own parents. After the evening meal, Jonas asked them, “Do you love me?” They became embarrassed and told him that “love” was so meaningless that it became almost obsolete. Jonas had never felt anything as meaningful as the memory of love, and he longed for that feeling himself. So I imagined how happy Jonas must have felt. In a world where everyone had lost the feeling of love, the Giver was the only one who still knew it and said it to him.

The line occurs in Chapter 13, when Jonas knew that nothing had color in the community. It's the conversation between Jonas and the giver.

This line is special to me because I completely agree with this opinion. Having choices is an important thing for me in my life. I work hard at studying English so that I can choose to live in the U.S. or return to China. I work hard to earn money so that I can buy the purchases I like. Without choices, I won't have the power to face challenges. I won't have curiosity about life, and I won't feel happy when I achieve what I want through my efforts, because it would be something I was bound to receive or something I would never get, despite my best efforts. The right to choose makes my life colorful. If I lose the right to choose, my life will be boring. This line shows that what really matters is not what to wear but the freedom to make choices.

They changed." (Chapter 8)

This very short last sentence made a strong impression on me. Jonas saw something again! That means he could "See Beyong". Jonas felt uncomfortable and scared for the first time he saw the changing of the apple (Chapter 3). But this time, he seemed to get along with it and was more confident.

It touched my heart. When a person is more sensitive than the majority, they feel different and worry like Jonas, wonder if they feel right, or if they are imagining too much. These people often see changes on other people's faces, even if they are fleeting or even if the person does not show any expression, they still see something happening inside that person.

This is also good because it helps them know how to treat, treat delicately and correctly, making things better. However, this sensitivity and foreseeing something makes them think more and do something that carefree people would not do.

Over time, they will gain experience, overcome the eyes of doubt or misunderstanding, become stronger and more confident about what they feel and do for a better life, and better things will come to everyone.

That is me.