Profile EE (Excellently Excellent)

Just like last year, in Humanities we a serious of tests to identify what our learning profile is. This done to help our teachers and ourselves understand what, where and how we learn best. My profile was, Profile EE (aka the Excellently Excellent).

From looking at my Profile and relating it to me ways of learnings, I learn best when I've written or verbally communicated and analyzed information. Whether me detailed or just the bid picture. Although, the profile states that when I can structure information in an orderly fashion as I take in the "big picture" with I ears and eyes. Even though, my in my profile it's been said that as a verbal learner I tend to talk about my learnings in order to understand it fully. I disagree with that mainly because I do not think that I'm a verbal leaner. As with the statement that I have the need to talk about what I've learned I'm not exactly sure. I don't usually ask question to instructions but like to make sure what I've

learned is correct. In some ways it could be true. I, like most other students, learn best when I'm NOT under any stress. For if I'm under stress or preoccupied, I'm been prone to forget things. And the profile also states that I may have trouble hearing or seeing things when under stress, which not entirely true. Sure when anxious I may miss details and have difficulty paying attention. But I know one thing from the paper is absolutely true, I need to talk things through when I have a hard time comprehending what I learned.

During class and while learning, I need to either write or talk about the what is being learnt. It's easy for me take it in visually because there is a slight possibility I could forget it. Also, what I've learnt can be forgotten if don't go over it frequently. While learning, I in an

environment where I'm calm and relaxed, because under stress I get edgy and began to forget things. As you can see, my memorizing skills are not all that good. Also, if there's a lot pressure on me, I get clumsy and lost.

Being a Logic Dominant Learner, I have different strategies that help me learn or that I use. These include brainstorming ideas, visualizing unusual images in my mind, I rely on my instincts, I prefer to use different ways of writing/saying things all the time, expressing my emotions, especially spontaneous joy is something I would o, I enjoy being physical and active doing activities much like hiking and swimming and so forth, and to understand some concepts I role-play the situation. These aren't all the strategies and habits that I use/work well with listed in the book. The rest of the bullet-points don't apply to me, or I disagree with. For example, I don't exactly like using mind maps to generate ideas, writing is one of my strongest subject yet it one of my least favorite work, so naturally when I saw that the booklet said I write poems and songs I disagreed with it. Although when I'm emotional I do

sing songs that I make up on the spot. I do not use metaphors and emotional stories as much as possible because I barely talk most of the time let alone tell stories.

I would like all my teachers to know that, I'm a quiet girl. Although I can achieve many things, I do it in my own quiet, shy way. I absolutely, totally, incredibly, LOVE reading. I read wherever, whenever I can. At dinner, at a party, sometimes if I have a good enough book during class. It's sometimes one of my flaws because I can get very distracted by a book, yet it enhances my writing and reading skills. I do tend to get distracted and doodle occasionally. It's just a habit that a lot of students do when teacher keep droning on and on. I have to have everything around me neat and organized. Whether it be the basket of markers in front of

me, or pencil case. I work better with a group who can be productive, but if I'm among those who talk, I join in and lose my focus. Even if I can get a teacher or someone to help me out, I prefer to solve my own problems. It may seem I'm too shy to come up to a teacher to ask, which sometimes may be the case, but I don't ever feel like asking for. I WANT to do it myself. At the moment this is all I can think of. These probably are the most important things I'd like my teachers to know.

Sources:

Two Brains

Say No To Library Closure!!

Through the UK, council men are putting the consideration of closing the Libraries that seem unneeded to them. I do not understand the need to close down the birth place of ideas, the place to get lost into the secrets of our thousand year pasts. The momentarily pleasure of happiness, the amusement in finding the perfect book. Reading is an object of delight in the people, casting them off would endanger the knowledge of our world.

I strongly disagree with this decision that may or may not up take soon. The thought of the door closed forever, horrifies me. Reading, to me, is the best pass time. The way when reading, you're lost inside a different world, a world that could be any where, any time, with any story. The pages itself, go away, the words spiral through your mind, forming pictures. Everything around, is forgotten.

Throughly, I think that shutting down the libraries is

wrong, and should not happen. Not just because of my love for reading, but for the knowledge letting free from the pages. These libraries hold the knowledge that everyone has the right to access. I'm absolutely against closing down the libraries in the UK.

An anonymous supporter, who does not want the libraries, sculpted papers sculptures. They were seen somewhere in one of the many libraries that may be closed down soon. Here are two of them;

Sources:

Music Box and Coffin

Dragon In Egg

By- Zarafsha :P

Me In Three Objects

Each person, individual, human being, or whatever you may call your self, has a vast number of characteristics that represent them. Each being’s personality is a tangles mess that forms their unique qualities. As there is more than a variety of traits each person contains, the list of objects that could symbolize myself is limitless. Nonetheless, I have chosen these three items that express myself most efficiently.

Eleven years ago, my parents and I moved into Warszawa, Poland, where I had fallen in love with beauty of city. The city contained a mixture of modern buildings and historical structures. Though, most of the ancient architectures were reconstructed, after more than half the city was demolished during World War ıı. These buildings and statues from the medieval times caught my eye the most because I’ve always been fascinated with things from olden times, where there was no electricity and candles were used. As a matter of fact, my early childhood dream was and still is to live back in the time where Kings and Queens ruled, served by royal knights. Being the princess of place where I would ride on carriage, and have the privilege of wearing gowns of exotic fabrics. While there, not only did I love the architecture, the country itself is a charm, the trees that dotted high ways, the stillness and soothing winds that blew across quiet nation. Warszawa is one of my dearest places to be, but unfortunately when we moved out of the country three years later, I never returned back. But I brought a postcard with me, from a gift shop during the fun afternoons spent in Lazienki Park. On the card, about 38 tiny pictures of famous structures, containing both modern and antiquated buildings filled up the postcard, which coincidentally is shaped like a heart. The photographs includes the Old Town Market Place, Royal Castle, Wilano Palace, Presidential Palace, and so on. I absolutely miss Poland and it’s wonders, but the postcard is all I have, for now. The card represents my affection of Warszawa and the Medieval times.

In my life, above almost everything, is reading. If I could, I would sit inside a enormous library, with gleaming golden ladders that stretch up against the ceiling high book shelves, hundreds and thousands of shelves stacked with books about absolutely anything and everything. Only my mother probably won’t allow me to sit all day in there. Nonetheless, I read every minute of my free time, I even read in gatherings, parties and family outings. There are two piles next to bed, four shelves full of books and some even have double rows! Another shelf in the closet with three rows of books. That’s just how much I bought from stores, so it doesn’t count the countless number of I borrowed from the library. In other words, you can say that reading is my life. I’ve read over a ton of books, varying mostly in the fantasy genre, and to find the right object to represent would be hard. Maybe my favorite book would do good, yet to choose a book above all the other ones is challenging too. For I enjoyed, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis, Harry Potter by J.K Rowling, Twilight Saga by Stephine Meyer, Fallen by Lauren Kate, and so forth. After pondering and fishing around my room, I chose my favorite bookmark instead of favoured book.Not only does it in a way represent my passion for reading, but also that my hobby, not so coincidentally is collecting bookmarks. Two years ago, my collection started when I realized that bookmarks were a important part of reading, for obviously you’ve got to keep track of, until where you have read. This particular bookmark is exceptional to me than my others in my collection because it’s unique. Most bookmarks I’ve come across have sayings that are to encourage people to read books, but this one has a quote, “Laugh when you can. Cry when you must.” It’s eye-catching too, for it’s larger than most typical bookmarks, it is just slightly bigger than my hand. The colors are distinctive, so are the shapes that border the quote. To truly add the finishing touch, the bondi blue ribbon. Going to bookstores captivates me, searching for new books are my entertainment. All those new enchanting novels that hold secrets of who knows what. The bookmark was just hanging there, on an ordinary day, looking through the stacks of books, when it caught my eye. It seemed to me that the appealing would do good in my collection. So, just like that, I bought the bookmark, which is currently my favorite bookmark. Reading would most probably, describe me the best, against everything else, for reading is frankly my life.

Frustrating, isn’t it? Obstacles preventing you from saving your work, the spinning wheel irritating you, and your typing indiscriminately on the keyboard while using your other hand you keep clicking aimlessly on the screen attempting to solve technical problem which you’re very sure you it won’t ever make sense to you. In a situation almost identical to the one, I would think differently. As a matter of fact, I’d be thinking the exact opposite of what is mentioned above. I’m what you’d call a “Computer Geek”, for working on the computer is my absolute, second best pass time, after reading of course. Whether it’s just browsing through an search engine, troubleshooting technical difficulties, or chatting/catching up with friends and family from far and wide, I’m on it. Sometimes, when there is nothing in the entire world that can delight me, I’m wandering through my computer, discovery new short cuts, new mechanisms to personalize my computer, cool, pretty or unique pictures for my desktop, or just smiling at snapshots that bring back old memories. Most of my time is already spent on the computer because now days, with the modern gadgets, nearly all teachers are giving out homework that utilize the Internet. Not only does it effect that this age has more sophisticated than a decade or so ago, printing out paper is an issue for the it impacts the earth. Extra usage of paper, electricity, plastic and so on, has caused global warming, pollution, and et cetera. Choosing carefully, I decided upon showcasing my Kitty Thumb-Drive to symbolize zeal for using electronic devices, especially the computer. I guess my personal desktop would shown everyone, without doubt, my passion for gizmo's, but that’s too obvious and boring. The Thumb-Drive is shaped unusually, for I’m pretty sure not many people have USB that take the appearance of a cat. Besides, cats and any other feline creature, are outright the second to none animals in my world. The majority most probably would pick dogs, but I, unlike them, have a crazed obsession with the feline family. Tigers are my topmost favorite, though I’d choose any breed of cat over dogs or such beasts. In addition, Julia C., one of my best friends, just prior to moving away, she presented to me with the thumb-drive. It bring backs the good times we had, laughing at jokes, pretending to be responsible and so forth. This Thumb-Drive, formed in the shape of a pearly white miniature cat, is unique and special, on account of the fact it represent my relish for the cat family, memories of one of my best friend and electronic appliances.

Flash-Drive

Kitty Figure:

Even though describing someone, anyone in only a few objects is practically absurd, I’ve chosen three items, out of everything in my room, out of everything that I have held, I chose them. The postcard of Warszawa (Warsaw), illustrated that of all the places you can find on the altas, Warszawa, Poland is my personal favorite. Reading is the very best productive work I could possible think of, to show that, plus my hobby; collecting bookmarks, I decided to displayed my dearest bookmark. Last, but not the least, my Kitty Thumb-Drive shaped in the form of a snowy white cat stands for my fondness of the electronic devices and, what I think to be, the supreme animals; the feline family, also known as, the cat family. Choosing with difficulty, the settled on picking the Warszawa postcard, my favorite bookmark and my special Kitty Thumb-Drive to myself.

-Zarafsha :)

Sources - Photo Booth

My Name

Zarafsha.
A name with elegance and charm. A curly, glossy, and wavy hair. Almost the number 8, wiggling across the page. An ancient, dark blue comes to mind, more or less the deep world under the surface of water. Deep blue water, twisting and coiling to form a Z, then A, R, A, F, S, H, and finally another A. Maybe written in the dark and ancient blue ribbon, so soft and stunning, keeping all the eyes mesmerized. A sense of puzzle comes when looking at the name, a difficult math equation which pleases me in account of the fact my personality is quite a cryptic. There are rare times though, when the mood goes dark and grim, the name, Zarafsha becomes less exquisite. Even more exasperating is that in spite of the fact that it’s a unique name, it’s too rare causing people to pronounce incorrectly. Some names include; Zarasha, Zarafasha, or every so often, Zarafa.

Nonetheless, the name is special, meaning ‘Light of Wealth’ clarifying that the bearer would bring wealth in whatever way, which is true in ways. Around the time I was born, my father had earned a promotion. The name Zarafsha is rather uncommon, for hundreds have the Zara, but not Zarafsha. It came from a television show character, the show was one of my mother’s favorites back then. As the name was so uncommon, finding the meaning was mystifying, as a matter of fact I would have been named Tashfia if my great-uncle had not found the denotation.

Enchanting to articulate, spell-binding to listen. This is my name, Zarafsha.

It's About The Title

"Dreams Subtitle My Reality"

My Blog title is a quote about dreams and reality which I altered a bit to sound more like me. The real quote was actually; "I reject your reality and substitute it with my own." -Adam Savage, as I enjoy dreaming using my imagination and combing it with the actuality, I tweaked the quote into making it about one of my favorite pass time. I specifically chose the topic because I believe dreaming is important part of life for without them there would be no hope or a private sanctuary to retire when life is harden by the cruelty of the world. Dreams can vary from mythical and magical dreams to dreams of one's future or desire. Unfortunate for us, reality and dreams usually don't collide. So instead most people subtitle their reality with their dreams, which is to say, that even the though the world would stay the same, they themselves would only see it differently, depending on their imagination. This is not exactly living in a world where dreams and real life are all there together, but a world where there both there yet a wall stands in between the two. At least, that is what my meaning to the quote "Dreams Subtitle My Reality", you may come across some with a dissimilar explanation for each individual's illustration of the word "dream" is unlike to the definition of the next person you might ask.

As mentioned how important dreaming is, but having reality is significant too, so I thought of making a quote that has both. As much I love dreaming (dreams when sleeping and also day-dreams) I would never like the notion of losing physical existence of the real world.

By Zarafsha

Sources

Deam and Reality Doors Picture

Imagination Picture

From The Darkness of Nu

This is my Creation Story Trailer, from my Ancient Egyptian Myths. Hope you enjoy! :P 

My Grade 6 Year

The 6th grade year has unfortunately come to and end. All through the year, there has been some ups and downs. Yet, even the year had it's bumps, I shall ever miss it. Especially my teachers; Mrs.Narsiman, Mrs.Smith, Mr.Smith, Ms.Fox, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Fulcher, and other teachers that taught me during this year. But there is always an ending for everything, nothing lasts forever. Now the time has come to move on to seventh grade. Seventh grade teachers do not know much about me, except, probably my name. Here is a reflection, that may help the teachers to understand my learning habits and me, more!

This year, I worked at my best, trying to create perfection out of my work. Even my learning, I've grown this year in many ways. My portfolio holds proof of that, for the portfolio From all the pieces of work I have done through this year, the one that I feel I've excelled at is the blog post that composed a story of a memory that frightened me. It was the Tiger Picture Blog post. This particular piece of writing stood out, because here I added details of emotion and action. Using descriptive words to clear out what I was feeling, what it looked like, what it sounded like, and so on. It was like taking a snap shot of the event, and going through the details slowly and carefully. Unfortunately though, that week was the week that I had to go back to the US, and it totally slipped my mind that we had that there was blog-post. So, this was turned in late, not exactly my best pieces, but I still feel I outdid the content. As there were times that I felt proud of, there were also times where I felt challenged.

During the course of this year, one thing that challenged me the most was communicating. It's always been in my nature to be quiet and shy. Making new friends or meeting new people was weird, especially when I had to start the conversation. This year, I was separated from my friends from last year, and at the beginning of the year I had been almost alone, but gradually, I became to know some of the kids in my class. Still throughout the year I had some troubles when working in groups or pairs. I still hadn't gotten any better at being less bashful, so being around students who I don't know all that well makes me quite close to sounding mute. All the same, even if I hadn't grown on the skill of not-being very wary of my surrounding, there were other opportunities where I grew.

Looking at my growth, what I've learned about myself as a learner is that I could write better than the style I wrote last year. The writings from last year, just went straight to the point of the story. Now, using bigger and more vocabulary in well structured paragraphs I writes essays, narratives, diaries and so forth. Evidence comes from my very first blog-post, where I introduced myself, that shows how I wrote before, to the blog-post I recently wrote for a Lit. Circle post, one The Giver book, by Lois Lowry. It was the letter from Jonas to his little sister, where upon we had to explain all that Jonas learned during his employment as the Receiver or Memory. Also, learning our Learning Profile helped me learn myself better. The learning profile showed my learning habits that I hadn't realized before, to help me understand what would be best for my learning though the duration of class. My profile letter was BB, which stated that I was a logical learner, who tends to learn better when there are written or spoken work to be done. But that's just a stereotypical statement that shows, but if I were to grade my learning habits, I'm sure it wouldn't match perfectly.

My evaluation of my working habits are:

a) Behavior

Could be improved

Satisfactory

Perfect - the model student

Explanation: Most of the time, well actually nearly all the time, I'm well behaved, but there are some times, where my mouth opens out too much. I don't become talkative during class for most of the time. The cause is there might be something out of the ordinary going on, or something fascinating that occurred, or something close to that. All I can say though, that generally I don't step out of the line.

b) Participation

None

Satisfactory

Actively participate in class

Explanation: Even though I pay attention as much as I can. Occasionally, when the class begins to bore me, I start reading during the lesson, or when the book that I may be currently reading might be very riveting. But for whatever reason, I have a tendency to read a book. I've become a book worm, since fourth grade, because I caught the it from one of my friends who just happens to be a book worm. I can't help it, but when I'm reading a captivating book, I try not to, but I just read at every possible second. It's one of my quality that I don't like. Reading is fine and all, but too much isn't good.

c) Organization

Needs serious help

Satisfactory

I'm super organized

Explanation: I could be a neat freak, but I'm not. I don't bother keeping everything organized all the time. When I'm in a hurry, I could leave my locker in a mess, but later, not very long after, I'll get it back into it's original format. Nine out of ten times you'll find my locker, desk, and even my bag neat and clean. I take the time to place everything in order so later there would not be the bother to ruin my time by cleaning it out, over and over again. Keeping this in order, I'm able to find my work, books, and other things that is needed for my class.

d) Effort

Needs serious help

Satisfactory

I always go above and beyond what is required.

Explanation: Although there is no need for it, I try my best to go above the required goals. Especially in my writing work. It there instructions are: Write a 3-paragraph essay on ....... I'll end up writing at the very least four paragraphs. Not just the length, in my details too, I add extra information that is, obviously, related to the subject.

Of all the things, a goal I have for seventh grade is most probably try harder in math. I understand and everything, but I go too fast and make silly mistakes. I'm not careful at doing my work, I think that I try my best, but I know that I could do better. It may seem that I'm being critical about myself, but to me, math is really important in everyday life, even at the simplest things. So all in all, I want to make sure that I double check my work or that I work through the problems with more care.

Another goal that I have made for next year is not to get distracted during my studies at home. I have a knack to visit other unnecessary sites like Youtube and unneeded google searches. Choosing a song to listen on Youtube takes a lot of my time and so does searching things that aren't school related. I wouldn't mind if it were done during my free-time, but it's usually while I'm doing work. This causes me to sleep late, and spend more time on the computer, which, I've found out isn't good for your eyes. Then there's chatting on Google Apps, one way or another I end up chatting with someone. It's hard to get way once you start a conversation, so another distraction causing me to stay off task. I'm in hope next year, I'll have more will power to stop going on inessential sites.

I'm as ordinary as an ISKL girl can get, even if I may not show it, I'm pretty cheerful inside with a obsession for books and cats. I'm most probably suited to be a girly girl, rather than goth, punk, emo, and so forth. I absolutely love listening to music (but who doesn't), but it depends on the type of song.... I hide away from people, but once you get to know me, I'll my colors at you! I do like to work to perfection, adding anything to make it more so. I like being colorful and bright. And like most girls at this age, I've got a passion for hair and shoes.

Moving from ES to MS is hard. Adjusting to it's different atmosphere, not being the oldest anymore, but actually the youngest, and all those things and more. But believe me, sixth grade is a roller-coaster ride. At the beginning it's loooong ride down, then later comes the bumps, and as it skids to a stop, you wish it didn't end. As I said, there are bumps on the way. One of them is homework, it's alright and all, but finishing it off at the last minute is horrid. Unless your absolute A+ student, you can't scrape up more B. Not just home work though, any class work actually. Never leave anything to the last minute. Socially speaking, there are bumps too. Now that you feel older, better, new and more mature, there is a time when your friendship tables get turned around. You make more new friends as there are different classes with dissimilar students. Now there isn't any more of boys and girls nonsense, where boys and girls exclude each other for their gender. But that doesn't leave out the ups, like .... many kinds of teachers, new friends, now campus, lockers, lunch (where there isn't anyone to order you around on how to spend your lunch time), no more lines (student line ups), and MS parties!!! With all of the drama going on and all, I'm sure the new sixth graders are going to LOVE IT (just like me :P)!!

As the seventh grader teachers know me hardly, I'm hoping this will help to know me better. And of course, there's always next year to learn more! However, I shall dearly miss sixth grade, everything about. Including the down bits, which now amuse me and evidently the high lights. As mentioning before, "Everything comes to an end at some point. Nothing can last entirely forever, only for a length of time." - ME :)

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." -Winston Churchill

(http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/end.html#ixzz1N5MQBk9H)

Dear My Lovely Little Sister, Lilly,

Dear my lovely little sister, Lily,

As I know, by the time this letter reaches you, you will have been well informed of that fact that I am missing. What I'm sure, is that your confused. Mom, dad, Asher, Fiona, you, and everyone else. They are confused, curious. You must be wondering why? Why I left, right? After I started my job, I began to realize the flaws that the community has; freedom, choice, colors, and feelings. None of that existed in the community, the community we all live in, pretending to live happily. From running away, I believe, that community I can help remove all this scars and can be saved from all the...... imprison.

" "Yes, I understand that they'll need you," Jonas had said at the end of the lengthy discussion and planning. "But I'll need you, too. Please come with me." He knew the answer as he made the final plea.

"My work will be finished," The Giver relied gently, "when I have helped the community to change and become whole."

"I'm grateful to you, JOnas, because without you I would never have figured out a way to bring about the change. But your role now is to escape. And my role is to stay."

From the days I have Received the memories from the current Receiver of Memory, I have learned many things about this community. Most of things I have learned is abysmal. The community you are currently living in is empty, blank. First of all, there are definitely no proper feelings! I am aware that you must think I have gone mad. No feelings? Am I right? Well, even though I'm well conscious of "The Evening Telling of Feelings", the citizens, including you, can only name feelings, not actually feel them. When we share our feelings of the day, do you ever feel the feeling? Feelings have to be felt, not said or described. I, for one, have felt these feelings. I have felt happiness, sorrow, sadness, angry, grief, hunger, and so forth. Some emotions go deep, and hard to describe yet easy to feel.

"On this unexpected, casual holiday he felt happy, as he always had on holidays; but with deeper happiness than ever before. Thinking, as he always did, about precision of language, Jonas realized that it was a new depth of feelings that he was experiencing. Somehow they were not at all the same as the feelings that every evening, in every dwelling, every citizen analyzed with endless talk.

"I felt angry because someone broke the play area rules," Lily had said once, making a fist with her small hand to indicate her fury. Her family - Jonas among them - had talked about the possible reasons for rule-breaking, and the need for understanding and patience, until Lily's fist had relaxed and her anger was gone.

"But Lily had not felt anger, Jonas realized now. Shallow impatience and exasperation, that was all Lily had felt. he knew that with certainty because now he knew what anger was. Now he had, in the memories, experienced injustice and cruelty, and he had reacted with rage that welled up so passionately inside him that the thought of discussing it calmly at the evening meal was unthinkable.

"I felt sad today, " he had heard his mother say, and they had comforted her.

But now Jonas had experience real sadness. he had felt grief. He knew that was no quick comfort for emotions like those.

These were deeper and they did not need to be told. They were felt." (Pages 131 to 132)

Our community, the very one I grew up in, has taken away a quality. It's called "color (s)". The Chief Elder mentioned it at the Ceremony where as I was selected to become the new Receiver of Memory. She called it being able to "See Beyond". This, just like feelings, have vanished. Back, back, and back. When humans were still able to see them, there was not only one color, there were more. Each had millions of shades too. There were; Red, Orange, Yellow, Light Green, Dark green, Light Blue, Dark Blue, Purple, and Pink! There are millions of more that you'll soon be able to see. Every object, every creature, every thing, has a colors. Similar to something having a shape, size, and color. Colors aren't gone though, the citizens just can't see them. From looking back all I've learned from the memories, I suspect that having feelings, or have the potential to feel, has something to do with being able to see. Feelings (as you will soon learn) have a sensation you will, and as I recall, when looking at colors there is a sensation to be felt. Or something close to that, for all I know it that this wonderful capability, is to die for. Once you see it you will never want to let it go. Without luck, we had to let that power go as well as being able to feel the feelings.

"The Giver sighed. "How to explain this? Once, back in the time of the memories, everything had a shape and size, they way things still do, but they also had the quality called, color. " " (Page 94)

"Jonas wasn't interested, just then, in wisdom. It was the colors that fascinated him. "Why can't everyone see them? Why did colors disappear?

The Giver shrugged. "Our people made that choice, the choice to got to Sameness. Before my time, before the previous time, back and back and back. We relinquished color when we relinquished sunshine and did away with differences. " He thought for a moment. "We gained control of many thing. But we had to let go of others.
"We shouldn't have!" Jonas said fiercely. " (Page 95)

"Days went by, and weeks. Jonas learned, through the memories, the names of colors; now he began to see them all, in his ordinary life (though he knew it was ordinary no longer, and would never be again)." (page 97)

From all that you have read so far, I believe your still confused as to why I had to leave. My memories, the memories from back, back, and back, needs to free. Free for all the citizens to reach. The only way for that to happen, is for me to either die or go far enough from the communities so the memories will leave and go back. Although you may not have well structured feelings, I'm under the impression that you, or anyone who knows me well enough, would want me to arise from this world. Oh, you probably won't even the feel the sorrow of me dying. Let me explain to you about an emotion unremembered from long ago when it was alive in hearts of everyone, it was called love. I am sure you have heard of this feelings and educated not use it for it, I believe it is not Precision of language. Even called meaningless! If you knew, or if you felt such a feeling.... Oh, Lily! Sadly, it is something the committee gave away, as likely as not, for our own good.

" "Father? Mother?" Jonas asked tentatively after the evening meal. "I have a question I want to ask you."

"What is it, Jonas?" his father asked.

He made himself say the words, though he felt flushed with embarrassment. He rehearsed them in his mind all the way home from the Annex.

"Do you love me?"

There was an awkward silence for a moment. Then Father gave a little chuckle. "Jonas. You, of all the people. Precision of language, please!"

"What do you mean?" Jonas asked. Amusement was not at all what he had anticipated.

"Your father means that you used a very generalized word, so meaningless that it's become almost obsolete," his mother explained carefully.

Jonas stared at them. Meaningless? He had never before felt anything as meaningful as the memory.

"And of course our community can't function smoothly if people don't use precise of language. You could ask, 'Do you enjoy me?' The answer is 'Yes', " his mother said.

"Or," his father suggested, " 'Do you take pride in my accomplishments?' And the answer is wholeheartedly 'Yes." "

"Do you understand why it's inappropriate to use a word like 'love'?" Mother asked.

Jonas nodded. "Yes, thank you, I do," he replied slowly.

It was his first lie to his parents. " (pages 126 to 127)

Despite the fact I was scheduled to leave a bit later, most probably on the day of Ceremonies, I didn't. The motivation that drove me to take off in my journey was Gabriel. Something else I've learned about the community is the truth about release. Unlike the stories (and lies) Father and Mother tell us about Elsewhere and how the people who have been Released go to Elsewhere. Instead they are killed! Injected with some of sort poison. I know very well you won't believe me, and assume I'm making this up, but unfortunately I have seen evidence with my own eyes, and you will not believe who was caught, it was Father. Call to the memory of Father retelling us, at dinner about the twins. Well, I was curious to see the Ceremony of Release for the poor, maybe lucky, child getting released. Instead what I saw, was the shocking truth behind all these murders. But, do not panic, Father was (sadly) instructed to do so. It was a part of his job, and as far as you read now (unless your skipping ahead) you should at the very least understand that he can't, and he didn't have feelings to feel for the hapless infant. I, differ from Father, I actually felt something in me for Gabriel when I absorbed the knowledge that Gabriel was voted to be released. I just knew I had to save the little kid, I felt love for him.

"It had happened at the evening meal. The family unit was always eating together as always: Lily chattering away, Mother and Father making their customary comments (and lies, Jonas knew) about the day. Nearby, Gabriel played happily on the floor, babbling in his baby talk, looking with glee now and then toward Jonas, obviously delighted to have him back after the unexpected night away from the dwelling.

Father glanced down toward the toddler. "Enjoy it, little guy," he said. "This is your last night as visitor."
"What do you mean?" Jonas asked him.Father sighed with disappointment. "Well, you know he wasn't here when you got home this morning because we had him stay overnight at the Nurturing Center. It seemed like a good opportunity, with you gone, to give it a try. He'd been sleeping so soundly."
"Didn't it go well?" Mother asked sympathetically.Father gave a rueful laugh. "That's an understatement. It was a disaster. He cried all night, apparently. The night crew couldn't handle it. They were really frazzled by the time I got to work.
"Gabe, you naughty thing," Lily said, with a scolding little chuck toward the grinning toddler on the floor."So," Father went on, "we obviously had to make the decision. Even I voted for Gabriel's release when we had the meeting this afternoon."
Jonas put down his fork and stared at his father. "Release?" he asked.
Father nodded. "We certainly gave it our best try, didn't we?"
"Yes, we did." Mother agreed emphatically.
Lily nodded in agreement, too.
"When?" he asked. "When will he be released?""First thing tomorrow morning. We have to start our preparations for the Naming Ceremony, so we thought we'd get this taken care of right away.
"It's bye-bye to you, Gave, in the morning." Father had said, in his sweet, sing-song voice. " (Pages 164 to 165)

Lily, it is my time to leave now, so I shall end this brief letter to you. I wish very much indeed that I could have given a proper farewell to you, but for the sake of the community's future I have to. I am heading out of the community, off to Elsewhere, with my head held high for I know I'm leading the community and it's people to a better future. I hope, after every else realizes for what reason I have left, that I did it for their better and shall at the very least, in their hearts become proud of me. Lily, you have, and always will be, my lovely little sister, whom I am writing this precious letter, who are one of the individuals that I have taken a life-taking risk. Lily you shall always stay in my heart and my desire is that you too, shall treasure me in your heart with love.

With all the love,

From your one and only brother,

Jonas.......

Picture Sources:

Corlors - http://www.smashingapps.com/2009/02/05/23-magical-photography-to-believe-that-are-not-photoshopped.html

Love - http://loveblindornot.ibibo.com/gallery/album/112909/10363/88664

Freedom and Choice, Lit. Circle 4

"There was no answer to Jonas's whisper. Gabriel was sound asleep.

"Things could change, Gabe," Jonas went on. Things could be different. I don't know how, but there must be some way for things to be

different. There could be colors.

"And grandparents," he added, staring through the dimness toward the ceiling of his sleepingroom. "And everybody would have the memories.

"You know about memories," he whispered, turning toward the crib.

Gabriel's breathing was even and deep. Jonas liked having him there, though he felt guilty about the secret. Each night he gave memories to Gabriel: memories of boat rides and picnics in the sun; memories of fall against windowpanes; memories of dancing barefoot on a damp lawn.

"Gabe?"

The newchild stirred slightly in his sleep. Jonas looked over at him.

"There could be love," Jonas whispered.

The next morning, for the first time, Jonas did not take his pill. Something within him, something that had grown there through the memories, told him to throw the pill away. "

(Pages 128 to 129, The Giver, Louis Lowry)

Throughout the chapters, 16 to 18, Jonas feels the pleasure of freedom. While the community restricts freedom and choice, although they may not notice, they also cut off the vibrating emotions of feeling feelings. Through memories, Jonas and other receivers feel the succinct sensation of freedom. The freedom of being an individual, the freedom of walking away at their own will, the freedom of riding across a meadow to a place where you choose to do things, the freedom of walking down the street without having to hide anything, and so forth. Most of the memories, not all though, contains this; contains freedom; but in it's own different way. When Jonas received the memory of having a birthday party, he felt atmosphere where a child could feel the joy of being a special and unique person. Not just that, he received countless memories that embrace happiness.

" " There are so many good memories," The Giver reminded Jonas. And it was true. By now Jonas had experienced countless bits of happiness, things he had never known of before.

He had seen a birthday party, with one child singled out and celebrated on his day, so that now he understood the joy of being an individual, special and unique and proud.

He had visited museums and seen paintings filled with all the colors he could now recognize and name.

In one ecstatic memory he had ridden a gleaming brown horse across a field that smelled of damp grass, and had dismounted beside a small stream from which both he and the horse drank cold, clear water. Now he understood about animals; and in the moment that the horse turned from the stream and nudged Jonas's shoulder affectionally with it's head, he had perceived the bonds between animal and human.

He had walked through woods, and sat at night beside a campfire. Although he had through the memories learned about the pain of loss and loneliness, now he gained, too, an understanding of solitude and it's joy."

(Page 121 to 122)

Along with freedom, comes choices. There are so many choices in our society, we never pondered about it, or what it would be like with having them. In the community Jonas lives in, choices, as well as freedom, is banished. Even though this is a negligent performance that the committee has dispatched, I'm sure they have no clue as to what it has done. Maybe the person or the group of people who choose this knew, knew that the older generations would feel pity on themselves, but this may have been done for the good of the people. They might have thought they were helping the people. For example; in the mornings, you wouldn't have to spend time on choosing clothes, or choosing breakfast, for there wouldn't a choice. Or contemplate all your life over what job would suit you, and on and on. To be able to make your own choices, first there must be freedom. Freedom to make choices. When Jonas first learned about colors, he started to question the community's control, the limitation of seeing colors, or choosing. He began to become curious of what it may be like if there the freedom of choosing.

" "Well..." Jonas had to stop and think it through. "If everything's the same, then there aren't any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things! A blue tunic, or a red one?"

He looked down at himself, at the colorless fabric of his clothing. "But it's all the same, always."

Then he laughed a little. "I know it's not important, what you wear. It doesn't matter. But-

"It's the choosing that's important, isn't it? The Giver asked him.

Jonas nodded. "My little brother --" he began, and then corrected himself. "No, that's inaccurate. He's not my brother, not really. But this newchild that my family takes care of -- his name's Gabriel?"

"Yes, I know about Gabriel."

"Well, he's right at the age where he's learning so much. He grabs toys when we hold them in front of him -- my father says he's learning small-muscle control. And he's really cute. "

The Giver nodded.

"But now that I can see colors, at least sometimes, I was just thinking: what if we could hold up things that were bright red, or bright yellow, and he could choose? Instead of the Sameness."

"He might make the wrong choices."

"Oh." Jonas was silent for a minute. "Oh, I see what you mean. It wouldn't matter for a newchild's toy. But later it does matter, doesn't it? We don't dare to let people make choices of their own."

"Not safe?" The Giver suggested.

"Definitely not safe," JOnas said with certainty. "What if they were allowed to choose thier own mate? And chose wrong?"

"Or what if," he went on, almost laughing at the absurdity, "they chose their own jobs?"

"Frightening isn't it?" The Giver said.

Jonas chuckled. "Very frightening. I can't even imagine it. We really have to protect people from wrong choices."

"It's safer."

Yes," Jonas agreed. "Much safer."

But when the conversation turned to other things, Jonas was left, still, with the feeling of frustration that he didn't understand.

(Page 97 to 99)

When I come to make up the conclusion, these chapters, chapters 16 to 18, related to freedom and choice because Jonas gets to wander through memories that represent the delight of having freedom, and the pleasure of being able to make your own choices. Not only that, but feeling the different aspects of freedom.

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”

Sources:

Freedom Picture - http://umattr.info/

Quote - http://thinkexist.com/quotations/freedom/

Choice Picture - http://monkeywong.com/2009/02/10/life-is-a-matter-of-choice/

By, Zarafsha :)