A World Reawakened

An Introspective Walk Through a Park

“Remembrance of things past is not necessarily 

the remembrance of things as they were.”

—Marcel Proust

        Finding nature was harder than I thought it would be. In a city consumed by building and development, it is so simple to look at the tree outside and deem that all the nature you need. Though I wanted the full experience of this assignment, and if a trip to Blue Hills Park is required for me to broaden my definition of nature from a tree to what it truly is, so be it. I was willing to trek to a park, but it got me thinking, what was the real essence of this assignment? A walk in nature would typically clear your head, transition you from the life dictated by screens to one without, but instead of doing exactly that, this park was able to transition me from a world of screens, but flood my mind into a mirage of nostalgia.

Generation Z

What We Bring to the World  

“Deep under our feet the Earth holds its molten breath, while the bones of countless generations watch us and wait.”

—Isaac Marion

        Time betters the shortcomings of the past. As a race, the only goals we can strive for are the ones we dream, not the ones we cannot fathom. As humans, our occupations have primarily been the same, movement, food, socialization, but with time these tasks have, for the most part, become more comfortable. Time has given us the liberty to advance these occupations' insight into making life simple. Generation after generation have been tasked with the mission of progressing this need for simplicity, that we so desperately desire. In so doing, humanity has coined eras with respective characteristics relating to the role they played in this mission. Though this generation has not accomplished much in comparison to others, it does not speak for what we have offered. This generation plagued with the fad of social media tends to focus on the more trivial things in life. Though often perceived as a negative trait, it can also be perceived in a positive light. The fact that our generation finds the need to share even the mundane, everyday moments in their lives shows a sense of appreciation, appreciation for life in general. Done in excess can prove to be addictive. Even though we find ourselves infested with, taken from the perspective of older generations can show that no part of life is unimportant, from thoughts, ideas, personal moments, no matter how small. Our aspiration to not care what others think is also rooted in social media, and that taken in moderation pushes the message to be yourself. This generation has proven to be one of expression and doing so unapologetically. Even as we still have decades of information to learn and grow, we also have a lesson or two to teach the world.

From Me to You and You to Me

A Mutual Sense of Respect

“A person's a person, no matter how small.”

— Dr. Seuss

        Respect is given, then mutually earned. For true respect to take play, it has to be consensual; an unspoken pact, held by the adhesive of trust. Without respect, the world ceases to go round; a general sense of acknowledgement for someone’s differences can be shown by talking to them casually, and that is respect. Without this concept of respect, the connotations left for restraint run wild, tempering with the very ideals this country was built on. When I found the likes of my respect, solely dependent on my leniency, I began to ponder why I was not worthy this respect. With everyday in that summer camp, back in sixth grade, came instances in which my morals were challenged by the test of restraint due to the maltreatment I was shown.

       I desire an ending, an ending to all this madness. An ending to all the uncertainty, an ending to all the misconceptions, and a proper ending to the school year. I am lucky, and I realize that, for if we never appreciate that, our lives would be shrouded in self-pity, but I do miss Fenn. Though I always try to look at the bright side of this online schooling situation, it is definitely not the same. The sleep is nice though, after some time to think about it, I would definitely keep waking up at five and getting home at seven to just finish off my year at Fenn, even for a day. There were times that I was frustrated, looking too far at my years of high school I felt as if Fenn of weight around my leg and I was being forced to drag it along with me to the finish line, but with time to think, Fenn might as well have been at the finish line, cheering me along through my journey, just before tides get rough. But now there is online school, hindering me from the experience; now, the crowd has stopped cheering, and I am walking alone in silence. The grading is generally the same, I talk to generally the same people, the homework is better, but it is supposed to be the same, but it is different, in more ways than one.

The Authoritative Power of Chores

Repetition Through Generations 

“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.”
—George Santayana

        Chores hold the key to a working family dynamic. Though they may howl and growl chores are the leash that keeps us in our place, a constant reminder of how far we are from freedom. Though some are done to accomplish a goal, one that reveals its worth after completion, others are utterly pointless, or so they seem. Though these same chores may have a minuscule short term effect, done in repetition, it reinforces the family’s structure, with the kid always at the bottom and the parents, reigning above. It was after my parents had invited two families over to a homemade dinner had I realized the dishes weren’t going to wash themselves.