Belonging Essay
‘An individual’s interaction with others and the world can enrich or limit their experience of belonging.’ Discuss with reference to your prescribed text and one related text.
Belonging is a fundamental part of the human experience. However, the interactions an individual has with others throughout their lifetime can have both positive and negative repercussions. When people make connections with others, the tone of the connection plays a major part in the overall benefit that connection has on one or both parties. If the experience is somewhat tumultuous, the result can be a limited experience of belonging for those involved; similarly when people interact with others in a positive way, the result can enrich their overall experience of belonging. Peter Skrzynecki’s poems ‘St. Patrick’s College’ and ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’ from his collection ‘Immigrant Chronicle’ both convey ideas associated with interactions with others enriching or limiting an individual’s experience of belonging. ‘St. Patrick’s College’ highlights the importance of making connections with others during the years spent at school and how failing to do so can inhibit an individual from having a positive experience of belonging later in life. Contrastingly, ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’ delves into the enriching effects interacting with people in a similar situation as you can have on your experience of belonging, especially when that situation would otherwise be limiting to that experience. Ned Vizzini’s novel ‘It’s Kind of a Funny Story’ demonstrates both views that social interaction can enrich and/or limit an individual’s experience of belonging and that the deciding factor can be as simple as the expectations those involved have of one another.
Peter Skrzynecki’s poem ‘St. Patrick’s College’ expresses the notion that an individual’s failure to interact with others while in school can severely limit their overall experience of belonging. Throughout this poem, Skrzynecki fails to mention any specific
Belonging is a fundamental part of the human experience. However, the interactions an individual has with others throughout their lifetime can have both positive and negative repercussions. When people make connections with others, the tone of the connection plays a major part in the overall benefit that connection has on one or both parties. If the experience is somewhat tumultuous, the result can be a limited experience of belonging for those involved; similarly when people interact with others in a positive way, the result can enrich their overall experience of belonging. Peter Skrzynecki’s poems ‘St. Patrick’s College’ and ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’ from his collection ‘Immigrant Chronicle’ both convey ideas associated with interactions with others enriching or limiting an individual’s experience of belonging. ‘St. Patrick’s College’ highlights the importance of making connections with others during the years spent at school and how failing to do so can inhibit an individual from having a positive experience of belonging later in life. Contrastingly, ‘Feliks Skrzynecki’ delves into the enriching effects interacting with people in a similar situation as you can have on your experience of belonging, especially when that situation would otherwise be limiting to that experience. Ned Vizzini’s novel ‘It’s Kind of a Funny Story’ demonstrates both views that social interaction can enrich and/or limit an individual’s experience of belonging and that the deciding factor can be as simple as the expectations those involved have of one another.
Peter Skrzynecki’s poem ‘St. Patrick’s College’ expresses the notion that an individual’s failure to interact with others while in school can severely limit their overall experience of belonging. Throughout this poem, Skrzynecki fails to mention any specific