A letter to Myself

Earlier this year, I realised that whatever I write goes on facebook, but never my blog. So I decided to share a reflection I had made on New Year's Eve, on the past year.

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Every year brings its share of ups, downs, and moments of epiphany- always starting with the over ambitious resolutions that we set (but seldom accomplish) - right? Well, it may be true for some, false for others.

2015 has been an unforgettable journey of constant change, with many new challenges and opportunities that came my way. Upon my reflection on the past year, I have concluded that I have undergone the most changes of my life, this year.

What could be more painful than losing a loved one? The void left by my grandfather is one that can never be filled again. The laughter in our talks and the pleasure in our walks can never be replaced, and the wounds from are still fresh. Every time I walk into our house in chennai, I miss him sitting out on the verandah reading a newspaper and waving to me from afar. But his parting taught me so much, and made me a more understanding person. Now the importance of time and spending it with the people you love is integral to my every move.

Moving on, this year I started high school, I moved countries, I performed in my first concert, Barcelona won 5 trophies- just some of the major changes / happenings in my life this year. But each of these changes have taught me something , making me a new and improved person.

Performing my first concert not only made my family and I proud, but also fired up my passion for Carnatic music and preserving my culture with great respect. I now will definitely pursue music as a passion, parallel to what I pursue as my career. It was an amazing feeling to have finally done a feat that I had worked towards for 10 years, a feat that I prepared hard for the last 6 months. It took great shape, and has laid the foundation for many such concerts to come.

Moving countries was an especially hard phase- it was something I had done almost 10 years ago with no memory of the challenge in leaving behind people you spent so much time with. Singapore was my home for 9.5 years , and most of my friendships and memories had their roots in SG. With the sudden news of moving, I had to abruptly leave my old friends behind, while making new ones in the process. It taught me that distance should never be the reason for divide between friends, and it also revealed my true friends from the temporary ones.

Well, all in all this year has helped me grow as an individual and has shaped me for a much MUCH better year ahead. I had so many falls, but so many amazing friends and family helped me get up on the way, and I ended the year on a high. I just want to thank every single person who has been a part of this journey of mine- whether you were just that person who smiled at me in the corridor, or family who held my hand the whole way. 2015: the year of great change, and foundation for progress.

I hope that all the events that took place this year are left carefully in memory, leading the way to a more successful and experience filled year- not only for me, but for everyone one of you who feels the same way. Good luck to everyone in 2016!

Do not regret the past, and do not plan too hard for the future, just live in the moment and live it well.

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My English Essay # 2 ( Craft)

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Here is another Essay, on the same book ( To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee ). This time, it focuses on the craft and symbolism used by Lee to enhance the book! :D

Often, we confuse the outer characteristics of a person with the inner truth that lies in them. We tend to overlook their good qualities and willingness to help our society just because of our false perception. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the Mockingbird as a physical representation of innocence, beauty and freedom to explore the theme of injustice towards the innocent well wishers of our society. 

Throughout the book, even of not explicitly mentioned, the Mockingbird carries a very deep significance. It is the means through which the reader can fully understand the author, and what she is trying to tell us. The Mockingbirds in the book are not birds, but actual characters who symbolise the different people in our community, who have not been treated the way they deserve to be treated. By creating characters to quote the mockingbird, Lee uses the crafting method of dialogues to get her message across to us. It is those characters who have done so much good for the county, but have received only isolation and despise in return for their deeds. These include Jem, Dill, Boo Radley, Tom Robinson and Mr Raymond. When we connect with those characters, questions come to us. What did Boo Radley ever do other than help the society? Why are the fair skinned being believed, while it is actually Tom who is innocent? 

At the beginning of the book, Lee does not focus on the symbol itself, but instead on what makes a Mockingbird so respected. When Scout and Jem are learning about rifles, Atticus said he would rather shoot tin cans than a bird, which rouses queries in the two children. That is when Lee uses the attributes of Atticus to convey the famous quote- “ It is a sin to kill a mockingbird”. She tells us quite directly about the theme that the whole book revolves around. It’s deeper meaning is so much more profound than it’s literal meaning, which allows us to stop and consider the fact that killing a mockingbird is destroying innocence. This brings up the 2 main Mockingbirds- Boo Radley and Tom Robinson. Tom is a black man with noble intentions. People in Maycomb do not understand that race and colour do not make humans different, and they shunned all the ‘Negroes’ of their society. Despite that, Tom was always ready to help when required. During the trial, he was accused of being guilty only because of his race, which killed the innocence inside him. Eventually he knew that his efforts would go in vain. But he tried to escape, only to get shot 17 times. He is a Mockingbird, as all he ever did was help a girl who betrayed him. Lee developed Boo’s character through the entire first half of the book to trigger thoughts in the reader’s minds. But towards the end of the book, Boo is shown to be the one who helped out in most of the dire situations, and also the one who sent gifts to Jem and Scout. It is the society that spread the word that he was bad, and not to be trusted- thus he is the second mockingbird. 

Mockingbirds are known to repeat whatever they hear , just like children follow the behaviour displayed in their society. Mentors are what shape a child, but if those mentors give them the wrong ideals, the child will grow older to become a person with bad qualities. Children obviously can’t choose a mentor when they are as Scout, so they listen and repeat what everyone says to them. Miss Maudie tells Scout-“Your father’s right. Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us.” Scout is not really a Mockingbird in the context, the only thing that separates her is maturity. What Ms Maudie told Scout is a metaphorical way of describing our society now. Scout didn’t know the deeper meaning of it, but could grasp the central moral. One time, she asks Atticus about Boo- "Well, it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?”. She knew what Ms Maudie meant, but didn’t know how to apply it. 

Another way to look at the Mockingbird’s significance in the book is to relate it to Jem and Dill. When we think of innocence, we think of children. But as the book progresses, the same cannot be said for Jem and Dill, two young boys who have seen too much of the world, too fast. After the court scene, when Tom is accused of being guilty, Jem realises that “it ain’t right” to arrive at such a conclusion regarding Tom. All his trust in people and his ability to look at the positive sides of a situation were destroyed after the trial, and that is when a Mockingbird was killed. Similarly, Dill was shattered after what he saw at the trial. He explains his grief to a still curious Scout, when he says “I don’t care one speck! Somehow, it ain’t right to do ‘em that way.”. It shows us that he now knows who is actually right, and whom to trust. The last Mockingbird- Mr Raymond, is a queer character. The community believes that he is way too close to the blacks to be part of them, and also that the little pouch he carries with him is full of wine. When Dill has a conversation with him, he finds out that Mr Raymond had been carrying nothing but a pouch of Coca Cola, which was his way of separating himself from the discriminating world. He too was a victim of lost freedom, and his innocence had been torn apart from him for a long time. 

Symbols are what make a piece of writing effective. A great writer is one who can use a symbol so well that the message gets through very subtly, maintaining both the pace and fun of the book, and the depth of the theme of the book. Lee has done that brilliantly, and the fundamental message has come across to the reader. Using the Mockingbird as the main symbol helped Lee instil the underlying qualities of kindness and purity throughout the book.


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Just saying, the next 7 posts won't be as boring! So stay tuned...

My English Essay #1

After Journalism, we did a reading and note taking unit, after which we started Essay writing. Now, It may seem boring, but we were writing Literary Essays! Our first one was thematic, based on a certain theme of a certain book. The book I chose was To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. So read on only if you have read the book! Or else:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER !!!!

People often have to make hard decisions in life, but the number of people who make the right decisions depend on their experience of life. To Kill a Mockingbird deals with two kids who lose their innocence at a young age, as they encounter the harsh realities of the society and humanity. Soon, they are confronted with the essential question- is it better to go on the path of righteousness, or is it better to go on the path of comfort? Harper Lee tries to explore where people should draw the line between the morally correct and the simple way out. As Jeremy Atticus Finch and Jean Louise Finch grow through the book, they learn more and more, and start to understand that not everyone is good, and not everyone is right.

At the beginning, Lee is writing from the perspective of an adult, a more matured version of Scout Finch. But soon she transitions into the past, and makes it her present. From then, she talks from a child’s point of view, an innocent 5 year old who has much yet to learn and perceive. I think the fact that Lee uses this outlook makes the themes explored go much deeper, and it connects with the reader. Had it been an adult writing, the themes would be much harder to appreciate compared to a little girl who doesn’t know much about anything. It is this use of lenses that makes the reader question his or her own life. But how does Lee deliver the message so subtly yet with such an impact? She uses literary language when she attempts to make a link to the central theme, making it easier for the reader to make connections. She tactfully manoeuvres her story to go from the simplest to the most emotionally stirring topics. From knowing the Ewells as being really mean, Jem and Scout realise they are capable of more serious crimes. Both siblings have grown out of their child mentality much earlier than others their age would have.

As a young , curious girl, Scout is fascinated by the idea of school. But when she realises that there are people in her school that are poorer than her, and less fortunate, she is confused. How can someone else be different? That is the first time she hears about social inequality. Her conversation with her dad tells us that the Cunninghams are more poor than them, but they are poor too.

'Are we poor, Atticus?'

Atticus nodded. 'We are indeed.' Jem's nose wrinkled. This conversation sparks her inner self to take action when she sees something that is wrong. Atticus told Scout one day, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” This clearly tells us that judging and making your own conclusions of people is the easy way out- not necessarily the right way. It is this concept of thinking that drives Scout to make the correct choices. She puts herself into the other person, and then she realizes whether or not to trust the person. Readers can argue that the central theme isn’t about the choice between what is right and what is easy. They might assume, given the evidences, that it is more about Racism and Judging vs Trusting people- but that would be correct only on a basic level. Lee has gone for the more abstract view of the choices made by humans- and whether their chosen path is the right one or not. She uses the development of the different characters for a better understanding of life and the decision we face.

It is much later in the book that we see those developments in the characteristics of the two kids. Jem, who once used to include Scout in whatever he used to do , grows up to become more introverted. He turns towards books and newspapers, and usually tells his sister to go away from him. Scout on the other hand, changes to become stronger, and she knows how to stand up for the right. One example would be on page 158. Scout disobeyed her father when he was on the verge of getting hurt by the Cunninghams. She cleverly manipulated them to go back , and therefore showcased her abilities to do what was right, rather than stay back and do the easy. This character description is what made the themes even easier to perceive.

There were four other characters who added to the perfect execution of a serious themed book. Lee used Atticus Finch and Calpurnia as very big symbols in the book. Atticus is the abode of the higher knowledge. He symbolises the righteousness and conscience of man, and how with a little bit of effort and correct decision making skills, anyone would support what is right over what is easy. He maintained his cool even when almost everyone in the community, including his own sister, disapproved of his actions. When asked by Jem and Scout about his behaviour, he replied saying that his conscience got the better of him, and that one’s conscience is very different to one’s opinion.  Calpurnia is a symbol of voice. Until much later in the book, we are unaware of the fact that she is black too. She is the bridge between the blacks and the whites in the racist society- and that is explained in the church bit, when Jem and Scout first meet Calpurnia’s side of life. She is the voice that we have to raise in our lives- against the racists. She shows us that people who have a darker skin tone need not be cruel, mean or illiterate. She has all the qualities of a great mother, a hardworking lady, and all together, she is an embodiment of the good. Using both Atticus and Calpurnia, Lee has shaped the minds of the kids in a very interesting manner. It is because of these two characters that she doesn’t always mention the balancing act explicitly: it is meant to be read between the lines, usually when Scout and Jem are thinking, or asking questions.

The other two characters are Tom Robinson and Arthur “Boo” Radley. Throughout the first part of the book, Lee creates a detailed background for Boo’s character, while setting the scene for Tom Robinson. The first part prepares the reader for the more significant themes, focusing on the same thought, but on a smaller scale. One of the dialogues said by Atticus sets the overall tone for Tom’s part- “ They don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a Mockingbird.” This quote is the inspiration for the title, but it holds a deeper meaning that connects to the central theme of doing what is right, and doing what is easy. A few days after the trial, Tom tries to escape the prison, but he gets shot 17 times, for a mistake he hadn’t committed. He didn’t do anything except try to help others, but he got framed, and eventually, was killed. By murdering the character that has touched the hearts of many, Lee conveys her opinion of what the world really is. Just because Tom was ‘coloured’, did he deserve to die? Using Scout, she tells us indirectly that there are so many other issues that have the same root cause, but we define the problem according to the people involved.

“Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home-“

Scout is very much affected by what her dad told her, and what actually happens. Everyone is committing a sin by taking the easier way and blaming the blacks for everything, instead of doing the right thing. Towards the end of the book, we encounter Boo Radley, and in the most unexpected form. From what the society deemed Arthur to be, the readers judged his character too fast. But when Bob Ewells nearly murders both Scout and Jem, it is Boo who comes to their rescue, and finally shows his face. He was never really bad, and he always did good things behind everyone's backs. It is the society that misunderstood his true intentions, which is why Boo stayed inside all the time.

In real life, we frequently take decisions, but making the right ones are always an ordeal. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee has very creatively woven a string of balancing acts and themes that we should incorporate in our lives. Doing what is easy is not always doing what is right- and that mindset can help us achieve many goals by making the correct choices. From simple things like being curious and happy like Scout, to being wise and alert like Atticus, Lee has taught us very important life lessons that we must take away from this book. There is a snippet of Atticus and Scout’s conversation, which concludes the book.

“Atticus, he was real nice."
"Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.”

In one line, we realize that to make the right decisions, we must understand the person, and it is then when we decide to take the easier path. It is your choices that determine who you are. _________________________________________________________________________
Again, I would love it if you could comment below on what you thought about my essay! I have 1 more coming up... ( it is a craft essay ) And only 8 more posts to catch up! :D

My English Article on Reading!

Hey everyone. 9 more posts to catch up with the times! Anyway, Remember I started my English unit with Journalism? Well, I wanted to post my final article, which got pretty good reviews from my teacher :) But please feel free to be a critic in the comments !

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By Shruthi

The world keeps progressing, and we keep adapting to it, but in the process, are we losing out on doing simple things such as reading books? Shruthi Natarajan will uncover the benefits of reading, and how we can make it a habit. 

“There is no friend as loyal as a book”

                                               - Ernest Hemingway(American Author)

This quote cannot be more accurate, especially for the generation of digital natives and computer geeks we all are a part of. As technology advances, and the use of it becomes more and more of a habit, the little treasures of life will be lost to history. Children of the future will be oblivious to the vast variety of books and authentic english words that once ruled the world. Why is the love of reading books becoming endangered? Why are people “too busy” or “too bored” to take a few minutes of the day to just sit down and delve into another universe? 

Sreenidhi Venkatesh returned from school at 4:00 pm, with another pile of unwanted worksheets, and a few hours worth of homework. She goes to her room, and knows that if she doesn’t start her work now, she won’t finish it by the due day. Her mom calls her for snacks, but she prefers it to be given to her in her room. As usual, pencils and markers are strewn across her desk, and a pile of dusty library books lay in a corner, knowing that they will not be read . “ Ugh! I have to write for ten minutes as part of my English homework!” she moans, realising that 10 minutes of writing is now part of the other 4 subjects she has for homework. After all, being in Eighth grade isn’t a joke! But it doesn’t take her long, and at around 7:00 pm, she finishes all her work.

“ Now what? “ she asked herself. Her eyes take in her surroundings, and suddenly, her glance falls on the pile of books she planned to read in the summer holidays, but really she had finished only one of them. “ Oh no! How could I leave these amazing books for later? I am done with only one in the course of 2 months, when I would have read around 15 like last year!” she gasped, and raced to the books. She blew the dust off, and started flipping the pages. And she read. She read for 2 hours, and by the end of it, she was on the 14th chapter of her book, and learnt 25 new words!

This evidence is just 1 of many others of how reading can impact your life. A survey was conducted at United World College of South East Asia, East Campus with 20 Eighth grade kids. Questions were asked about their liking of books, and the regularity of their reading. 19/20 kids said they loved to read- but they all said they spend hardly anytime with the books. This clearly indicates that people do love to read, but as they reach the time of their lives when the get a lot of work, they just cut down their reading time, thinking that it won’t affect them. People feel that reading is just a pass time, which in a way it is, but there is much more to it than doing it for fun. 

You may be surprised to find out that the Harvard Business Review wrote an article in 2009 about how reading can develop your abilities in leading- “The leadership benefits of reading are wide-ranging. Evidence suggests reading can improve intelligence and lead to innovation and insight.”

This tells us that by reading, you can possibly become a future leader, and books are your keys to success.Statistics indicate that people spend only 18 minutes of their leisure time on reading- and on the other hand, 2.7 hours is spent watching TV! If we have so much time to watch tv, why not add in some time to read? You may be wondering about what benefits reading has on us.

Research suggests that by reading, you can decrease stress levels by a noticeable margin. By spending at least 10 minutes everyday to read, you can definitely become happier and start having a more positive outlook towards life. And not only that, but reading improves your vocabulary without you even knowing it! Within no time, you will find yourself understanding more of the real world, and applying the words you learnt to daily life. Especially if you are in your teenage years, reading can give you an understanding of who you are, and what you can become. 

Arshia Alluri, a grade 6 student commented on her latest book The Fault in the Stars, by saying “ I have never liked romantic novels. But after reading this book, and giving this author a shot, I have realised that I have a new favourite genre! “ With this, it becomes even more clear that you can open hidden corners of the inner you, and start figuring out what it is that really attracts you. Alongside that, by reading you are indirectly unleashing your own creativity and imagination, because I am sure that when you read, you can picture vivid images of what is going on in the story.

What some readers may not realize is that reading increase your memory power and your concentration levels. So while you think that you have a lot of work and can’t make time to read, remember that reading is, realistically speaking, your work! It can be a big assistance during office or school hours, as you become sharper and smarter. Ever wondered why the so called “nerd” of your class is so smart? It is because he or she takes time to read and find out solutions to certain questions they have, because reading also makes you curious, and being curious helps you learn more. Our favourite author as children , Dr. Seuss himself, has quoted “ The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

What, you may ask, should you do to get into the habit of reading? Start by setting a goal for yourself. Some questions to consider before choosing the right book to read would be-

What do you want to get out of this book? What qualities are you looking to gain out of it? What type of book do you prefer to read? The most important thing is that you should never let go of the habit, and no matter what, the stories you read will stay with you forever.

As Marcus Tullius Cicero stated- “A room without books is like a body without a soul

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How was it? Please do comment and give me your reviews! :D

Quote of the Month 2k15 #3

March time! Im back on track with the Quotes now :D

"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny..."
                                                                                                   - C.S. Lewis

Quote of the Month 2k15 #2

This is QOTM is for Feb ( hehe my bday month )

" If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough. "

Quote of the Month 2k15 #1

Here is the Quote of the Month ( counts for January... I am filling up the gaps! ) ( I will also post 11 posts for the 11 weeks that I haven't posted anything )

This is by one of my favourite childhood authors- Dr Seuss!

" Be who you are, say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind! "