Theme Essay

Overcoming Depression 

How would you cope with the feeling of misery and secrecy? How would you deal with the gut wrenching emotions of misery and gloominess? How would you feel if you were completely alone, with no one to confide in? In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda Sardino is attempting to conquer her grief and sadness, after experiencing a horrific incident over the summer. She has become silent and glum, with no one willing to facilitate her grief. Overcoming depression is a major theme in Speak, as well as many other dramatic books and stories.

 Overcoming sadness is the theme of the novel, for Melinda must deal with the fact she was raped and sexually assaulted while attending a party, and now has no one she trusts to reveal the unpleasant event to. After calling the police, who arrested nearly everyone drinking underage at the celebration, she lost all of her friends. And although she has no injuries to prove the crime was committed, Melinda bares scars on the inside. The friendships she once had, have been destroyed, and her former acquaintances are ignoring her. Melinda also feels uncomfortable confiding in her dysfunctional family, whom she believes would be unable to understand her problems. She has nobody to discuss her feelings with, except for her new selfish classmate, Heather, who cares for no one but herself. These reasons, caused by one, sinful action, caused Melinda to hate herself and everyone around her.

Another reason the theme of the novel is overcoming depression is, Melinda uses painting and sculpting as a soothing technique to let out all of her frustration and anger. Thanks to her wise and friendly art teacher, Melinda pours her heart and soul into her work, thus forth breaking the ongoing sadness she has felt over the course of the never-ending school year.

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is another novel that discusses overcoming depression. After seventeen year-old Katniss Everdeen is sent to the Capitol, to participate in a fight to the death on live television, she warns her mother not to go mute again. Her unnamed mother, became distraught after her husband died in an accidental mine explosion; their district provides the coal for the entire nation. Katniss makes her only parent promise to care for her younger sister Primrose, as she enters the games. After their father had perished, Katniss took it upon herself to provide for her family, while her mother stared into space, with a blank and lonely expression on her face. Luckily, Miss Everdeen was able to take charge and defeat her depression, and resume her position as caregiver of her household. She was able to overcome her melancholy by embracing those who loved and needed her in their time of need. Miss Everdeen even returned to her status as District Nurse and began providing in-home health care, which in return, gave her enough money to raise Primrose on her own while Katniss was away. Melinda needed to gain the courage to move on and leave the past behind her, as Katniss’ mother did.

Like The Hunger Games, Legend by Mary Lu, represented overcoming distress in its theme. The book’s heroine, June, grew miserable and cheerless, after her brother, Metias, a military soldier, was murdered at a hospital while responding to a mission. After days of silence and unhappiness, she finally was able to grieve, and put it upon herself to avenge her sibling’s killing. She found herself curing her depression, after wondering about what Metias would’ve wanted.  She found the strength to revitalize her emotions, as did Melinda.

Towards the end of the novel, Melinda pours out all of her feelings into painting, and finally gains the strength to confront her assailant. Through art, she is able to express herself and her emotions, also overcoming her longtime anguish. She is eventually able to stand up to her rapist once he tries to attack again; her secret is revealed to the entire student body, and Melinda is able to resume her beautiful, joyful life.

Prediction Piece and Speak Epilogue

Prediction

In the novel, Speak, the main character Melinda has been brutally raped and sexually assaulted, events which occurred the night she attended an End of Summer party with her best friends. She was to begin the ninth grade and became awed when the most popular boy in school, Andy, asked her to dance, despite the fact he was three years older; the boy lured her into the woods and molested her. He had begun by asking her "Do you want to..." and when she hadn't responded, he had gone for it. Although against her will, she couldn't find the strength to scream or ask him to cease. 

Melinda called the police soon after, but they ended up arresting, not the assailant, but all of her friends who had been drinking and taking hardcore drugs inside the house. All of her classmates began to resent her and she found herself alone, misunderstood, and depressed.

My prediction of how the story will end, is that Melinda will finally reveal to her parents and previous best friends, of what really happened at the celebration, and Andy will be arrested. Andy deserves to be locked up in a cell, for he scarred poor, defenseless Melinda for life, and he will never be able to take that back. Plus, the judicial system will find him guilty of battery and sexual harassment, for he is eighteen and she is fifteen, and he has legally become an adult; only adults can be charged with these types of crimes. 

I believe Melinda will gain all of her friends' trust back and they will finally comfort her in her time of need. Hopefully, Melinda will have a happy ending, one which she so desperately needs. Andy is a monster, that is the best word to describe him; he must be punished.

Epilogue

(Based on my prediction, this is what I believe an epilogue of Speak would perhaps look like)

Almost an entire year has passed since my dreadful experience with Andy Evans. He has been convicted to a county prison, where he will be kept for three years; the judicial system intend to send a tutor to his cell everyday for college readiness. I know I'm safe now, but he still terrorizes my dreams. I am unable to get the image of him inserting my delicate and feeble body against my will. I keep reminding myself that he is unable to hurt me anymore; I'm not even capable of harming myself. My time in ninth grade will be memorable, although it will haunt me for the rest of eternity. I am overcoming the incident and surrounding myself with great, caring friends and family. 

I meet with the school guidance counselor twice a week, in an effort to clear my mind of the past. I wish to tell her that her techniques are useless, but I'd feel guilty due to the fact I am her only patient. No student visits her during the week, except for the occasional physical fight on school grounds or upset parent. As for Mr. Freeman, I find him more of a therapist than the guidance counselor; but he uses a different technique to grieve...art. I can't believe I didn't recognize this sooner!

I actually have friends. Real, loyal friends who sit by me at lunch, and engage in pointless chatter as they stuff their mouths with french fries and fork-fulls of salad. Rachel is no longer Rachelle; I was able to talk some sense into her and she no longer attends four foreign language classes a day. Ivy is my best friend. I finally realized that through my struggles, she was always there to offer help and advice. I still have the marker stained shirt; it's a memory, a good one that overpowers the terrible one.

And I'm in love. No seriously, I'm being as honest as ever. I've gone on multiple dates with my lab partner and I think they're my soul-mate. I know that probably sound ridiculous, for you know me as a emotionless, miserable teenager who barely socializes, but times have changed. I have changed. I am a different person. Living a different life. And I couldn't be happier. My tree has finally blossomed; my personality has bloomed. I have a voice...I can speak. 

Patriot Pen Essay

Kyle Roberts

7^th Grade

2012                                                                Patriot

If only someone could have prevented the horrendously aggressive battle, caused by the nation’s dispute over slavery. If only someone could have stopped the brutally bloody battle, that took over 625,000 lives during the Civil War. If only I could have been there to assist them and resolve their ongoing and troublesome conflict.

Our founding fathers gave up everything in order to assure themselves that America would be unlike any other country; we would have equal rights and most importantly, freedom. They put their heart in soul into the development of our magnificent land, now known as the United States; but there was one important reason they went to war: to illegalize slavery. If I were able go back in time to resolve the state’s differences, I would elucidate to them how atrocious using Africans as slaves actually was.

Our country was split into two feuding sides in 1861, over disagreements on laws and decisions made by the government. The Confederate States believed that every household should be served and waited on by various slaves, or servants, that would care for the homeowner’s every need. They separated themselves from the United States, who intended to find a solution for the ongoing problem, that forced hard labor on hundreds of innocent African immigrants. This quarrel lead the two skirmishing sides to one of the most vicious and dreadful wars in American history.

 The war began on April 12, 1861, with the final shot declaring the end of the battle, fired on June 22, 1865. This awful combat lasted for over five years, a fight that shouldn’t have even started at all. If I could go back in time to bring peace to their arguments and teach them that our differences are what make us who we are, the violent clash wouldn’t have even occurred. I wish that somehow, I could have been there to save the thousands of people, who perished on our sacred grounds, as proud Americans. Although I’d thank our founding fathers for sacrificing their time to establish our marvelous country, I would also like to tell them how dim-witted they acted using innocent foreigners as personal slaves, just because of their skin color, ethnicity and race.

If only someone could have prevented the sorrow and loss of over five hundred-thousand Americans, over something as simple as freedom…If only they had realized that freedom is a right that everyone tremendously merits, no matter who they are.

Conflict and Resolution

SPOILER ALERT!:
I am reading the pulse-pounding yet comedic novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Nighttime by Mark Haddon. This novel focuses on Christopher Boone, an autistic teenager, who sees the world very differently than most do. The major event that causes the story line to become interesting and thrilling, is when his neighbor's beloved pet poodle is found dead, having been brutally stabbed to death with a gardening tool, until dying of its wounds. Christopher decides to investigate the murder, until family secrets begin to unravel as a cause and effect. He discovers his supposedly dead mother, is still alive, and living London. Christopher also finds out that his mother and father were having marital problems; which gave his mom the opportunity to have an affair with his neighbor, Mrs. Sheers, husband. He thought his mother had died of disease, but that was just a cover-up created by his anger-filled father, who had found out about his wife's "late night meetings" with Mr. Sheers. Now, Christopher must confront his father, who may not be as innocent as he seems.

Christopher discovers that his father has murdered Mrs. Sheers' dog, Wellington and decides to flee the town and run to his mother. He takes a train to London, where his mom takes him in and lets him stay at her flat. After realizing what Christopher has done, Mr. Boone attempts to take his son back, and give him the A-Level Math Test, Christopher has been desperately waiting for. Now, Christopher must make a decision; to stay with his mother, who he has missed greatly, or go back home to his loving father, who has just committed a terrible crime.

Cause and Effect

The novel trilogy, The Hunger Games, focuses on Katniss Everdeen, a brave sixteen year old girl, who must fight for her nation's rights, against the unfair and powerful Capitol. The Capitol is the government in charge of her country, Panem, and although their laws are cruel and horrific, no one will stand up for themselves, afraid of the consequences The Capitol will bring upon them. 

Katniss volunteered to take her sister's place in The Hunger Games, a terrible bloodbath, where twenty-four children must fight to the death on live television; which is to be broadcast across the country. Katniss and her alliances refused to play by the rules; her disobedient actions, have sparked a rebellion across the nation, causing the twelve districts to go at war with their Capitol. Now, Katniss is put in charge of the revolution, and must fight for her beliefs. This is an example of cause and effect; she defied the Capitol and as a result, Katniss has to lead the rebels to battle. Now, she must defeat the brutal government who have unfairly treated their nation for decades, or lose the battle and face the ungodly punishment that awaits her.

The Wave (Fall District Writing Assessment)

Kyle Roberts

7^th Grade                                                     The Wave

September 12, 2012

The summer day was scorching, as the beaming sun reflected against the warm, serene sea. The light shimmered on the surface and danced in the harmonious waves. Joyous children and adults splashed through the water, unaware of the horrendous tragedy that would soon be upon them. The afternoon seemed strikingly beautiful; not a cloud in the sky that could darken the swimmers’ spirits. Tyler Hastings and his younger siblings, Cindy and Jake, glided through the crystal clear ocean, farther away from the yacht than anyone else. It had been an unpleasant year for them; both of their parents had deceased in a tragic car accident. The three of them had nothing left but each other. This was supposed to lift up their spirits, an escape that could keep their minds off of their loss. They had spent their past couple of months either sobbing until their eyes turned a vivid red or thinking of valued memories of their mother and father.

Tyler had looked out for his brother and sister and had done the best to keep his devastated emotions to himself; he had to be strong and promised himself he wouldn’t bawl in front of the children. With their caregivers gone, the siblings had moved in with their grandparents, whom they had barely spent any time with during their childhood. The trip to the Caribbean was a Christmas gift from them, hoping it would rid the three’s thoughts of their departed parents. It was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives, not the end of them.

Around noon, was when the first drop of rain, collapsed from a cloud above, and splashed into the blue sea. Tyler had witnessed the drop collide with the surface of the water and swiftly glanced up to the now utterly gray sky. The once beautiful day had turned into horrendous, nightmare, that none of the tourists could wake up from. A gargantuan wave crashed on top of the innocent swimmers, pulling them beneath the water, which poured into their lungs. They reached for the surface, hoping to behold a gasp of air, before losing their breath and floating to the bottom of the sea. When Tyler reached the surface, an atrocious pain pierced the pit of his stomach, when he was unable to locate his brother and sister.

“Cindy! Jake?,” he desperately cried out. “Where are you?” He dove back under the violent, deafening waves, to discover his younger brother, drifting lifelessly to the ocean floor. He grabbed Jake’s swimming shirt and with all of his strength, hauled him above the murky, dreary sea. Tyler placed his unresponsive sibling onto a tube, and pressed his lips against the boy’s, sending puffs of oxygen into his lungs. With no sign of his heartbeat, Tyler frantically pounded on Jake’s chest, until he awoke and coughed up pools of salt water; hints of deep red blood were visible dripping from the young boy’s mouth.

“What happened?”, Jake questioned his brother.

“Don’t worry, everything is going to be alright!” Tyler promised. “Cindy?” he shrieked at the top of his lungs.

Behind all of the screams of horror and agonizing pain, he barely made out a soft, helpless, “Tyler!”. He recognized the high, fearful voice that belonged to his younger sister, and paddled his way through the crowd of drowning people, pulling Jake along the entire time. He finally found a frightened and shaken Cindy, who sat on a circular inner tube, defenseless against a man that was beginning to hurl her off of the raft, in order to selfishly save himself. Tyler rapidly swam to his anxious sister and immediately punched the wrongful adult in the face, causing him to plummet backwards, and drift to under the sea.

“No one messes with my family!” he shouted in rage, as he struggled to tread water in the middle of nowhere. The vessel that had brought them out to sea had been caught in a enormous path, and sunken to the insidious ocean floor.

“Tyler! Jake!” Cindy screamed in despair.

“I thought I had lost you too!” Tyler responded.

“I want to go home,” Jake announced, as a minute tear released from his eye.

“Oh my gosh!” someone yelled out in the distance, as another mighty wave washed over the powerless beings. Dozens of bodies floated on the surface, heads down in the water, while families watched the light of their loved ones drift from their eyes as they are taken from their rafts by the typhoons that seemed to never surrender. The tranquil waters had turned into a death trap causing people to trash around in the sea and beg for mercy from the heavens.

“Guys, duck!” Tyler warned his siblings, just before the current rushed over his head, blinding him for less than an instant. He leaped to the surface, wheezing for air, before another rip-tied forced him under the ocean, into the depths below. Tyler had been asthmatic ever since he was a young child and began to struggle with out his inhaler nearby. More and more feeble lives were taken as adults sacrificed themselves for their children and were taken under by the hurricane. The storm seemed to go on ceaselessly; people splashed about, hoping to reach dry land sooner or later. There had been no warning; the tropical cyclone had seemed to come out of nowhere.

“Tyler?” Cindy had tried to yelp, but all of the screaming had begun to strain her voice. “Jake, do you see him?” she questioned him.

“No, I hope he’s okay,” he replied. Just then, a determined Tyler hurdled out of the water, and clutched a hold of the inner tube, containing his two apprehensive siblings, and began to swim east, away from the shrieks of terror and agony; away from the tourists caught in the seaweed, who violently struggled below until water hurried into their mouths, filling their lungs, until they motionlessly lied on the sea floor’s sand.

“What are you doing?” Jake asked him.

“Saving our lives,” Tyler emotionlessly answered. With all of the little potency he had left, he paddled through the ocean for miles, until the great waves and pouring rain finally began to cease. While wheezing and couching for air, Tyler was able to barely make out a patch of land in the distance. l

“Yes! Land hoe!” a thankful Jake belted out, as he thanked the lord and hugged his sister. “Keep going Tyler, we’re almost there!” he added.

“Thank you! Oh, thank you!” Cindy called out to the heavens.

“Stay strong guys, stay strong.” was all Tyler had said.

When Tyler reached waist-deep waters, no farther than seventy feet away from shore, he tumbled onto his knees, and dunked his face into the water, no strength left to keep going.

“Come on, Tyler! We are so close,” a confused Jake told his comatose older sibling.

“Tyler?” Cindy asked. There was no reply; bubbles arose to the glistening surface of the water, as the young man let out his last breath. Tyler had given up everything to save his family’s lives; he had pushed himself to reach safety, and had died in the process. Tyler hadn’t died because of the storm, or a blood-thirsty beast that lurked in the waters, he had deceased for love.

“No! Tyler!” Jake cried, smashing his fists against the sea in frustration. Tears streamed down his face as he shook Tyler’s stationary body around, hoping for him to open his eyes, and carry him home.

“Stop it Jake! He told us to stay strong. And we will!” she warned him. The brother and sister grabbed each other’s hands and stomped their way onto the beach, shaking the water from their hair and face, until finally collapsing onto the sand.

Life is a wonderful thing; it must be treasured and enjoyed, no matter what gets in the way; you must stay strong.

Quote

Love is the most powerful emotion mankind has; nothing can impede it. I believe the quote, “The gods never let us love and be wise at the same time”, written by Publilius Syrus, explains that. The feeling of love is uncontrollable and very difficult to resist; nothing and no one, including yourself, can prevent this. You may not appreciate it or necessarily want it, but there is nothing you can do to prevent this strong passion inside of you. Love will make you do or say stupid things, but that is one of the side effects from this deep, sensational emotion. This quote reminds me of the book series, The Twilight Saga, written by Stephanie Meyer. Bella Swan was deeply in love with the mysterious, kind-hearted vampire, Edward Cullen, no matter how dangerous their relationship might be. She gave up everything to follow her heart; but even though it might not have been the right decision, it felt like it to her. She didn’t care that it would be smart to stay away from the bloodthirsty demon that struggled to be around her presence without taking her life; she would do anything for love, even if it wasn’t a good idea to embrace their feelings for each other.