Ordinary day

Written by: Cara Curry

Days come and go,

The years fly by.

Always in a rush to grow up,

But never in a rush to die.

Looking back on my life,

I don’t want to regret.

I’ll hold onto the simple times,

And the moments I’ll never forget.

An ordinary day is a treasure,

Unlike any other,

Most take them for granted,

Like a child and their mother.

On our journey through life,

We should live, learn and love,

We should hold our brothers near

And praise the creator up above.

A perfect tomorrow is mistaken,

It’s a never-ending quest,

Live your life today,

Always strive to do your best.

Be gentle and encouraging,

Only have kind words to say.

Everyday may not be good,

But there is good in everyday.

Days come and go,

The years fly by,

Always in a rush to grow up,

But never in a rush to die. 

Hills Like White Elephants Reflection

      “Hills Like White Elephants” written by Ernest Hemingway is about a young girl wrestling with the idea of abortion due to the pressures and influences of the man in the relationship. The phrase which stood out and was repeated frequently throughout the passage the hills looking like “white elephants.” Throughout the passage, one can see how as the young girl studies the white hills she begins to reflect and realize how unique her baby is. The young girl begins to reconsider the abortion. This allusion links the unborn child and the white elephant.   The man sees the operation as a simple medical procedure and and he tries his best to persuade her into it.  As she considers his point of view she looks at the dry countryside, which is barren,  symbolizing her body after the abortion. The couple continues arguing until the young girl say “Would you please please please please please please please please stop talking?”

      When looking further into the symbolism of the White Hills, one can imagine the hills metaphorically representing a pregnant woman’s womb.  The hills are located on the other side of the valley, which can only be seen from a distance. The reflection of the distant hills might indicate that the girl finds it a distressing choice between the dry country and the hills. The dry country with the man also represents an abortion and the hills signify pregnancy and therefore leaving the man. It is also evident that that the man never looks at the hills. He avoids the fact that the choice of abortion is a difficult one. Lastly,  the color white in this story symbolizes the unborn child’s innocence.

      This phrase adds depth to our reading by portraying the issue of abortion in a metaphorical way. Although the word “abortion” is not found within the story, Hemingway uses two literary elements to portray this – the setting and symbolism.

Machete. N/A. October 2, 2006. “Like White Elephants – Literary Analysis”. Monday January 17, 2011

<http://www.gummyprint.com/blog/hills-like-white-elephants-literary-analysis/>

What will your life be known for?

What mark do you hope to make on the world? As I thought about this question, I reflected on two of the aspects of my life: my strengths and goals.

      I thought of all of my God-given strengths that I had become aware of last semester in my Christ, Culture and University class. Each student had taken the 'Strengths Quest' quiz online and learned in-depth about their strengths.  The quiz listed my top five strengths as Restorative, Developer, Harmony, Adaptability and Empathy. Combining these strengths creates a person who enjoys challenges, encourages others, avoids conflict, and is flexible and caring towards peers. I aim to leave a positive mark on the world.

      Another important aspect is my future goals. I came to college with the hope of pursuing an elementary education major because of the patience and passion I have for children. Over the past few months, God has molded and shaped me by closing doors and opening new ones.  This lead me to realize my passion for writing and analyzing. I aspire to either teach English or become an editor someday and enjoy my work while impacting others.

     Which brings me back to the question, what mark do you hope to make on the world? I hope to impact the world with my compassionate disposition.  I want to be remembered for my listening skills, and hopefully one who cares about others more than herself.   I dream of impacting lives by teaching and sharing new information. I seek to be an encouragement where others can see God through my life. But mostly, I want to be remembered for always being happy, positive and thankful for all of the blessings in my life.