Author: Amara

PR to Romeo and Juliet

While watching Romeo and Juliet, I found myself enraptured not only by the plot, but by the raw emotion that was produced through every scene and every line. The film evoked tragedy and passion at the same time and I found it amusing.

Before we began watching the movie, I imagined that it will be boring and extremely hard to understand because of the language used. However, while watching the movie, I found myself understanding the plot and, occasionally, some of the words and phrases being said.

When we were assigned the task of reciting the prologue, I did try to cram it and that ended with me not understanding what I was saying. But when I took my time to reflect on what was being said and comprehend the storyline, I was able to memorize it. Although my execution wasn’t as great as I wanted it to be, I was still proud of myself for memorizing it in short time. While reciting the prologue, I felt the weight of its words wash over me like a wave of inevitability. It served as a haunting start to the tragedy that was about to unfold, setting the stage for the heartache and despair that would follow.

As I watched the characters navigate the intense landscape of love and hate, I couldn’t help but feel a deep empathy for their predicament. The performances brought to life the inner turmoil, the reckless abandon, and the consuming intensity of Romeo and Juliet’s love affair. The chemistry between them was noticeable, igniting the screen with a fiery passion that was both exhilarating and heartbreaking to witness due to what was meant to follow.

In the end, Romeo and Juliet left me with a sense of melancholy, yet also a deep appreciation for the enduring power of love and the eternal struggle against fate. It is a lasting tale that continues to resonate with audiences today, reminding us of the fragility of life, the price of love and the enduring power of passion.

IRJE #6 – Regretting you

 

This Quote is from the book I’m currently reading, Regretting you by Colleen Hoover. One of the main characters of the book is thinking to herself in this quote.

It means people who make mistakes usually learn from them. That doesn’t make them hypocrites. It makes them experienced. (pg 8)

This quote provides insight to us readers by highlighting the positive aspect of making mistakes. It encourages a shift in perspective, emphasizing that mistakes are opportunities for learning and growth rather than reasons for criticism or judgment. The quote promotes a more forgiving and understanding approach towards individuals who have made mistakes, recognizing their experiences as valuable lessons that contribute to their personal development and wisdom.

PW #6 – love in the dark

In the quiet of dusk, when shadows play, Whispers thread over dreamscapes.
A lonely heart finds solace in the soft murmur of streams illuminated by the moon.

Every scar left by hardships overcome and tears shed reveals a story left unsaid.
However, a seed may germinate in the shadows,
a brave, resilient flower of optimism.

Bittersweet memories linger in the still places where echoes reside.
However, the gentle embrace of love, an ageless enchantment, leads tired souls to full comfort.

And when the stars said their final goodbyes,
And dawn’s embrace covers the world in light,
Recognize that love, which endures forever, will bind us together even on the darkest nights.

IRJE #5 – Purple Hibiscus

This quote is from the book I’m reading currently, Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and its a conversation between the narrator and her brother.

Did you tell Aunty Ifeoma about your finger?’ I asked. I should not have asked. I should have let it be. But there, it was out. It was only when I was alone with Jaja that the bubbles in my throat let my words come out. “She asked me, and I told her.” He was tapping his foot on the verandah floor in an energetic rhythm. I stared at my hands, at the short nails that Papa used to cut to a chaffing shortness, when I would sit between his legs and his cheeks would brush mine gently, until I was old enough to do it myself — and I always cut them to a chaffing shortness, too. Had Jaja forgotten that we never told, that there was so much that we never told? When people asked, he always said his finger was “something” that had happened at home. That way, it was not a lie and it let them imagine some accident, perhaps involving a heavy door. I wanted to ask Jaja why he had told Aunty Ifeoma, but I knew there was no need to, that this was one question he did not know the answer to. (p. 154)

This quote captures the weight of unspoken family secrets and the struggle between silence. The narrator’s internal conflict about confronting her brother, Jaja, regarding the revelation of a hidden family secret to Aunty Ifeoma reflects the tension between preserving appearances and the desire for emotional honesty. Jaja’s responses to questions about his finger reveal a desire to maintain control over his narrative, while his decision to confide in Aunty Ifeoma hints at a subconscious longing for understanding and validation outside the confines of their oppressive household.

PR-connection between brave new world and amusing ourselves to death

After reading the two books, I realized that they were more similar than I thought they would be. Amusing Ourselves to Death and Brave New World both warn against the dehumanizing effects of a culture fixated on pleasure and diversion. In Brave New World, a society where the pursuit of pleasure and r fulfillment takes place over individuality and critical thought is portrayed. In the same way, Postman believes that we no longer possess the capacity for meaningful conversation or critical thought since our culture has grown so dependent on entertainment. Both writers provide warnings that living in such a society can result in a decrease in one’s sense of personal independence and a loss of true human connection.

Neil Postman makes a valid connection between his work and Huxley’s novel. Both pieces draw attention to the perils of living in a culture where enjoyment and amusement come first. They operate as reminders of the value of striking a balance between learning and free time as well as the necessity of avoiding the temptation of mindless entertainment. Both Brave New World and Amusing Ourselves to Death call our attention to these problems, making us think critically about our own culture and the potential consequences of choosing light entertainment for deeper, worthwhile activities.

Memories – PW #5

In a small, bustling city, far from the rolling hills of her childhood, lived a girl named Amara. With each passing day, she yearned for the familiar sights and sounds of her old home, the scent of her mother’s cooking, and the cozy warmth of her bed. Memories of laughter-filled evenings and the comfort of her family’s presence haunted her. But as the seasons changed, so did Amara. With resilience in her heart and determination in her eyes, she embarked on a journey to create a new home, carrying the love and cherished memories of her past as she embraced the unknown.

The Hawthorne Legacy – IRJE #4

In this quote from the book The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Avery Grambs is describing how life at the Hawthorne house has been for her.

In the past six weeks, I’d been shot at, blown up, kidnapped, and paraded around as the living, breathing embodiment of Cinderella stories. To the world, I was a scandal, a mystery, a curiosity, a fantasy. (p. 203)

Avery knows the consequences that comes with becoming an heiress but she still goes on to solve forgotten mysteries which everyone around her advises her against. Still, despite all she’s been through, she still goes ahead to uncover hidden truths.

 

IRJE #3 – Stay away

In this quote from the book I’m currently reading The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, one of the a potential moles in the Hawthorne house is scolding the main character.

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” Mrs. Laughlin said fiercely. “Playing with an old woman’s feelings like that. And dragging the boys into whatever you were doing in Toby’s wing? It’s cruel is what it is.” p.g. 44

This quote just gives a brief insight of how the members of the Hawthorne house feel about Avery Grambs and they judge her even without getting to know her. Most of them just want her to stay away but that’s almost impossible for Avery, because she has a mystery to solve.

PR#2 – All Quiet on the Western Front

After reading All Quiet on the Western Font, I was struck by the incredible power of war and its devastating effects on the life of the soldiers. The vivid descriptions of the trenches and the horrors of war made me feel as if I was right there in the trenches with the soldiers. I was particularly moved by the way the characters expressed their fear, loneliness and despair. I was also touched by the strong bond of friendship that the soldiers had with each other.

The fact that this story is based on real life events made it even more powerful. The death of Kemmerich, in chapter 4 was particularly heartbreaking. His death serves as a reminder of the ultimate cost of war and how quickly ones life can be taken away.

The descriptions of the physical and psychological effects of war in chapters 7 and 11 were very moving. I was particularly struck by the way the soldiers had to cope with the constant fear and exhaustion of the battle. The scenes of the soldiers’ despair and hopelessness were also very powerful.

Overall, All Quiet on the Western Front was a passionate book. It reminded me of the importance of cherishing life and the need to work for peace.

Personal Writing #3- A walk through nature

In the center of the embrace of nature, where peace is king, I find inspiration and comfort. My soul is filled with joyous sounds when I listen to the soothing whispers of the wind, the rustling of leaves, and the lovely melodies of birds.

Every step I take on the twisting trails gets me closer to a secret oasis. I can feel the calm symphony that the water creates as it flows over the rocks. I sit by the water’s side and let its calmness wash over me, relieving my anxieties and reviving my soul.

In the embrace of nature, I discover a sense of belonging as well as tranquility.

IRJE #2

As I approached the end of the book I’m currently reading, The Inheritance Games, I went back a few pages to look for a quote that  described me a bit.

“It wasn’t my best look, but I’d gone to school with the same kids my whole life. I was wallpaper. No one was looking.” pg. 10

This quote is basically saying that the main character, Avery Grambs, always seemed to be invisible. No one paid her any mind while she was in school. That is how I feel sometimes even though it may not be true.

IRJE- The Glass Ballerina

In the book I’m currently reading (The Inheritance games, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes), the main character, Avery Grambs has been left an incredible amount of fortune from a man she never knew. Avery is trying to solve the mystery of this situation and in this quote, one of the man’s grandchildren is making her view things differently.

”Did Jamie tell you about the old man’s weekly riddles?” Nash asked as we walked. ”Yeah,” I said. ”He did”. ”Sometimes,” Nash told me, ”at the beginning of the game, the old man would lay out a collection of objects. A fishing hook, a price tag, a glass ballerina, a knife.” He shook his head in memory. ”And by the time the puzzle was solved, damned if we hadn’t used all four.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. ”Why are you telling me this?” I asked. ”Why tell me any of this?” About their birthdays, their presents, their expectations. ”You might think your playing the game darlin’, but that’s not how Jamie sees it.” Nash’s voice was gentle enough, but for the words. ”We aren’t normal. This place isn’t normal, and you’re not a player, kid. You’re the glass ballerina —or the knife.” (p.154)

This quote is basically telling Avery, and the reader, that she’s not one of the people trying to solve the mystery, but she is being used to solve the mystery. What I made out from this quote was that no matter how hard Avery tried to be among and figure out the truth, the brothers will not accept her as one of them and will only use her as an advantage.

 

PR- They shall not grow old

When asked about how I felt about the war, the first word that came to my mind was confused. After watching the video, my mind was racing with a series of questions however one question overthrew the rest. The question being: ‘Why?’.

From the very beginning of the video, I was a bit concerned. It was mentioned that the required age for a man to go into war was 19-35, yet boys younger than 19 were supposedly excited to go. They even went as far as lying about their age just to become a soldier. That left me questioning why those young boys wanted to go into war. What was so amusing about the war? What made them want to go into a war ground not knowing if they’ll live to see their families again? Questions like these were circulating my mind.

Another thing that struck me in the video was the amount of excitement these soldiers seemed to have before they went into war. Most of them didn’t even regret going. At this point, I tried to envision myself as a soldier and put myself in their shoes. If I was about to go into war, I’ll be freaking out. In fact, nothing would even make me think twice about going.

The soldiers’ capacity and mental strength to witness death and various disturbing casualties every single day while they were at war was another thing that amazed me. Those soldiers were probably traumatized every day but they still had the will power to keep fighting for their country. Their bravery is something that should be applauded.

Overall, my opinion on WW1 varies. Yes, I am a bit confused by it but I am gradually understanding why it was important. Due to the war, many empires were destroyed which led to the creation of numerous new nation states as well as encouraging independence and much more. Over time, I hope to be more educated on the war and I hope to understand it in a wider point of view.

 

My Future

All my life when someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my automatic answer was ‘I want to be a doctor!’. I did not know what type of doctor I wanted to be; I just knew I wanted to become one. Part of the reason is that my mother always wanted one of her children to be a doctor. I took that responsibility upon myself and was determined to make her proud. Growing up, she always taught my sisters and me the importance of being able to fend and provide for ourselves, and the way she said it always seemed like the only way to become rich was by working as one of these three things: a doctor, a lawyer, or an IT specialist. In that order. Either that or marry rich.

It wasn’t only my mother that ‘inspired’ me to become a doctor. I made up my mind to become one because when I was younger, I made many trips to see the doctor. While I was being treated each time I went there, The doctors inspired me a little due to the way they always ensured to make me feel better. I also wanted to be the one to make someone happy and healthy at the end day. Something about it just brings me joy whenever I think about it.

As I got older, it started to dawn on me what being a doctor meant. It wasn’t just about seeing a patient, telling them what’s wrong with them, and getting your pay. It was way more complicated than that. Surgeons had to be in contact with a lot of blood most of the time they worked. That didn’t change my mind because I later realized blood didn’t faze me. ‘Ah, I forgot you want to be a doctor in the future.’ my mom often told me whenever she glanced at me and didn’t see me shiver or shut my eyes at the sight of blood.

After reading various articles and websites on the various types of doctors there are (and which one pays the highest) I think I’ve made up my mind on the type of doctor I want to become and hopefully, I don’t change my mind. In the future, I hope to become a neurosurgeon or a pediatrician. I chose Neurosurgery because something about the nervous system fascinates me. I would like to become more educated on the nervous system while helping people. And the option of being a Pediatrician is simply because I have a soft spot for children.

Overall, my desire to become a doctor stems from my desire to help others. I believe that being a doctor is one of the most rewarding professions out there, and I am excited to be a part of it.

Hi, I’m Mara

‘Change begins at the end of your comfort zone’ – Roy T. Bennet

Hello. My name is Amarachi Tehilla Ogbonna (Mara for short, or Ama or Amara. Either way is fine by me). I’m from Nigeria and I recently moved here. By recently, I mean last week Wednesday. It was a bit of a rush but I think I’m adapting well. I’ve lived in Nigeria my whole life and I’ve only been to one school. I’m still getting used to the change but my Mom said I’ll fit in just fine. Like I said I just moved here so I’ve been attending Brookes for 4 days. Although It’s extremely different from my old school I’m trying my best to get used to the change.

I wont describe myself as an avid reader. Yes, I love to read but I rarely do it unfortunately. I love reading novels especially those without pictures. Books with pictures annoy me because it spoils my imagination and they don’t give me the opportunity to create my own image in my head. I love reading because when I do it, it takes me to a different world.

I’m not a writer. I’m not very good at it and even if I was, I don’t enjoy doing it to an extend to do it all the time. I used to write when I was younger but it was more of fiction that I wrote. It was bad. Though I can try my best to write essays.