My canvas

            Have you ever done anything to disguise or hide your race/ethnic identity? If you do, try to think of it again. Being a teenager is the time that we’re most prone to identity crisis. We tend to do things just to hide ourselves or to fit-in with the society where we at. These kinds of things also happen if we feel different or someone/something makes us feel different. For example, the dominant culture in a group is American. Some of us would feel different because there are things that we won’t be able to understand due to the reason that we grew up in a different county, or it would be harder for us to communicate with them, which becomes a barricade for us to feel we belong. Sometimes, we even try to imitate them, thinking that they might accept us more if we become like them.

            Personally, no, I would never want or plan to hide myself, because I don’t see anything wrong with it or anything I should be ashamed of. In fact, I am proud because from this race I believe is where I learned hard-work. It is a good thing that I have the strong support system to guide me, because they will be able to constantly remind me that I should be myself. This question is meaningful to me because if ever I would feel this way, I would be able to know what I should do by hearing their advice or learn from their experiences. I could also share my thoughts/ reasons why we should not be ashamed of our own races. It is also meaningful because I will be able to hear what they feel or their opinions about their race and can also learn from them their own culture and beliefs.

     
             Failure, yes, I experienced it. All of us do except for those who do not try. For me failing is a way of challenging you, making you doubt about whether it is time for you to give up or keep going, but then if that's what you really want, then you'll choose to keep moving and ignore all those failures. 

            Of course, at first, failure is hurtful especially when you know that you've tried so hard. You'll start to think about what you have done wrong, or what you could've done better, but as you go along, you’ll realize that stopping is not an option, because if you do, then you’ll be just wasting your time. You can always stop for a moment or a time, but not for so long, because you’ll never know what you could've been missing. I have you been taught to believe that failure is okay as long as you stand up, and finish what you've started. Failure is the proof that you are trying. Other people give up either because they don't really like what they're doing, or they’re weak enough not to surpass those challenges. Some doesn't give up because they have the strong desire and faith within their selves. Let us be the person who doesn't give up, as we are lucky enough to try again, others don't have another chance. You'll never know, maybe at that chance you'll be able to get what you want.

            Things that are really valuable or important are the ones that you cannot easily get. So don't stop now, because later you might regret it. This fall will also give you an experience and learning that you might use in the future if ever you’ll encounter these problems again. Experience is like a bullet in a war, without it you'll lose. Do not forget that failure is inevitable and is essential especially if you want to succeed, because “if you've never failed you've never tried anything new". Try watching this video and maybe it will inspire you.

                Have you ever read the story written by Vince Gottera entitled Manny’s Climb? This story is mainly about Manny entering the new school, trying to be socially accepted by showing what he can and would do just to fit-in.  There are consequences to the problems that a child can face. This includes depression and identity crisis, doing something bad to fit-in, and easily giving up to the challenges. The main reason for these problems is the lack of attention that should be given at home.

                This story has a lot of lessons or messages that the author wants to send to us. First, Manny’s climb story shows that the attention that is not given at home will be sought at other places, and if not, it can lead to depression and identity crisis. In the story, Manny has always been alone left in the house since his parents are working both for living. Most probably, they spend most of their times at work which gives them less time with their child. Second, we can also see in the story that people results on doing something bad even though they know that it’ll hurt them just to fit-in. On the first day of school, Manny ate the paper in front of other kids just to gain their attention.  On the end his stomach ached because of what he has done. Lastly, the story showed us that if we give up on the challenges that we are facing now, then we won’t be able to solve our problems. Trying to solve it is much better than giving up or running away. As said, he tried to jump off the transmitter because he was too overwhelmed with all the feelings/problems that he has especially at his young age. If only Manny was able to express what he truly feels to his parents or he can share it to someone then, the fire could be subsided while it was still early, not after it has made the damage. It might have been solved while it was still early, and wouldn’t reach to the point of trying to kill his self.