Changing Identity In Tuesdays With Morrie By Suzanne Collins
The novels I have read throughout my life have had a significant impact on who I am today and what I believe in. In particular, the school setwork novels “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom from Grade 8 and “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins from Grade 10 have had an effect on my life.
“Do I wither up and disappear, or do I make the best of my time left?” – Morrie Schwartz, in his thoughts after being told he had ALS, a neurodegenerative disease. He knew this meant he had only a limited time left before he would die. While I do not have a life threatening disease: these words still impacted me greatly. The words he spoke similar to what I often think when faced with great adversity, uncertainty or failure. I think to myself that I can …show more content…
Throughout the novel: Katniss Everdeen constantly rediscovers herself as a result of her constantly changing circumstances. In the beginning, she considers herself a hardy, poor survivalist girl, and she finds dignity and pride in this fact. As the story progresses: she begins to experience a life of luxuries in the Capitol, and begins to question whether she really is meant for the impoverished, survivalist lifestyle or if she’d actually prefer a comfortable, wealthy life. She also believed that being relatively brutal was a part of her identity, but after witnessing the Hunger Games she realised she was a lot more soft-hearted, empathetic and caring than she had previously thought. The evolution of her identity and discovery of herself was clearly dependent on her changing environment. This was and remains a valuable lesson to me in my quest, which is that in order to discover more of who you are: you have to present yourself with varying circumstances, that is to say you have to go out your comfort zone and constantly try new things. While Katniss’ participation in the Hunger Games was not really consensual, it was still outside her comfort zone and allowed her to grow and learn about herself. I have found this lesson to be helpful in times of stagnation, when I feel as though I am stuck and cannot figure out what to do to grow further.
“Do I wither up and disappear, or do I make the best of my time left?” – Morrie Schwartz, in his thoughts after being told he had ALS, a neurodegenerative disease. He knew this meant he had only a limited time left before he would die. While I do not have a life threatening disease: these words still impacted me greatly. The words he spoke similar to what I often think when faced with great adversity, uncertainty or failure. I think to myself that I can …show more content…
Throughout the novel: Katniss Everdeen constantly rediscovers herself as a result of her constantly changing circumstances. In the beginning, she considers herself a hardy, poor survivalist girl, and she finds dignity and pride in this fact. As the story progresses: she begins to experience a life of luxuries in the Capitol, and begins to question whether she really is meant for the impoverished, survivalist lifestyle or if she’d actually prefer a comfortable, wealthy life. She also believed that being relatively brutal was a part of her identity, but after witnessing the Hunger Games she realised she was a lot more soft-hearted, empathetic and caring than she had previously thought. The evolution of her identity and discovery of herself was clearly dependent on her changing environment. This was and remains a valuable lesson to me in my quest, which is that in order to discover more of who you are: you have to present yourself with varying circumstances, that is to say you have to go out your comfort zone and constantly try new things. While Katniss’ participation in the Hunger Games was not really consensual, it was still outside her comfort zone and allowed her to grow and learn about herself. I have found this lesson to be helpful in times of stagnation, when I feel as though I am stuck and cannot figure out what to do to grow further.