The readings this week showed how important it is to not look at things in one way. We need to keep an open mind and do everything in our power to make the best of all situations. Taking the time to look at thinks in a different light can be a great help when we are placed in difficult situations.

“A Father,” by Bharati Mukherjee was one of the more morbid stories that we have read this semester. This story shows how a man broke to the pressures of life. There are many people who at times feel that they are overwhelmed, but we need to strive to find good in things, and make the best of our situation. Granted, his life was extremely difficult, but there is no excuse for killing your grandchild.

“Serving Up” Hope is a great example of how you can overcome the hardships of life by looking at your situation differently. Many drug addicts relapse after coming clean, but in this true story Jennifer and Tyrone showed us the strength of human will and overcame their problems. These inspiration stories are both inspiring and revealing. They show us what we are capable on both sides of the spectrum. We can show great willpower to restore out lives to order, but we are also capable of substance abuse. Physical addictions do not only hurt the addict, it destroys the whole family. It is important to remember how important every decision we make truly is.

“Directions for Resisting the SAT” is a poem about trying to be yourself in a world where personality is being quickly drowned out. Applying to college, I was just a number. As much as the colleges tried to say that there were many other important factors, students knew that we were just a GPA and SAT score on paper. Three years from now we will just be a resume to some employer, and again we will just be a sheet of paper. These ideas are captured in this poem. Richard Hague warns us not to conform and get stuck in this system. He is clinging to the idea that our individuality can still shine through under such harsh circumstances.

Rugby games are war. I know from experience. I played rugby and high school and it was the greatest rush I’ve ever experienced in my life. I could not agree more with Gary Gilder’s poem, “First Practice.” I remember doing pushups in the snow wearing just a t-shirt and shorts. Our coach was screaming, “Cold never killed anyone!” I knew that statement was not very accurate, but I was in no position to argue. Gary Gilder has it right. Sports are war. The better-prepared team often wins, and you need to look at every game like a battle. If you don’t want to kill the other team each time you suit up then you will find yourself taking a beating.

“Young Frankenstein” has always been one of my favorite movies, so when I saw that I would receive event credit for going to see it I was thrilled. After reading Frankenstein, I could look at “Young Frankenstein” much differently. I enjoyed it much more seeing it this time. However, the “Puttin’ on the Ritz” scene is still my favorite.

All of these stories show how it is important to keep an open mind. Whether you are on a field or recovering from a very tough situation, you need to keep your bearings and keep moving forward. The human mind can find a way to overcome all situations. We should never give up hope.