There's No Mountain too Great

    

Perseverance is defined as “steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement” in dictionary.com. This definition gives such a weightless feel to this majestic word. Really, perseverance is the reason why most people live today, and the reason some people are a source of inspiration today. Three such people are, Sir Edmund Hillary who went from an average beekeeper to conquering Mt.Everest, Terry Fox an amputee who committed great feats, and our everyday modern teenager William Wissemann. These three role models encourages our world to fight for and believe in perseverance.



Sir Edmund Hillary was a humble boy brought up in small-town Tuakau, Auckland who grew up to be known as a conqueror of Mt.Everest. His father was an editor of the local newspaper and his mother was a school teacher, so you can imagine how simple his family was. Sir Edmund Hillary grew up to be a beekeeper with his father, and just made simple and frequent climbing trips in hills and mountains in New Zealand. For that time being, he was cemented as an apiarist and thought nothing of it. Gradually, he became more fond of mountains and fell in love with these beautiful creations of nature. His devotedness for mountains, led him to become a skilled climber and soon he was mastering mountains in the New Zealand Alps. “I didn’t visualize myself becoming a renowned mountaineer,” he explained later. “It happened gradually. Very few suddenly decide they’re going to be a world champion at something.” At the age of 32 he started conquering smaller mountains in the Himalayas, and was reaching his peak as a mountaineer. Only after climbing so many mountains, was Hillary offered to join an expedition to attempt climbing the most majestic mountain of all, Mt.Everest. All other attempts at conquering this giant had been failures, and also resulted in 16 deaths. Despite the history of such expeditions Hillary still stated in an interview casted by the Academy of Achievement, “people have prayed for my welfare, but I certainly haven't”. Being one of the two amateurs in this great expedition, Sir Edmund Hillary along with Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the only two who achieved the majestic feat. Sir Edmund Hillary teaches the world no mountain is too great, and he proved to society that anyone no matter who they are, can achieve their goals as long as they persevere. Only by starting small could he achieve his life-long dream. His dogged-ness, his determination, led him to become the honourable man he died as. “Almost anything has its moments where you have to overcome considerable challenges, and if you're able to overcome those challenges, you get a great sense of satisfaction” these sayings that came from the lips of Sir Edmund Hillary emphasizes on why determination is worth fighting for.



Terry Fox lost his leg to cancer at the age of 18, and he was told his chances of survival were 50 to 70 percent. The night before his operation his coach, Terri Flemming, gave him a running magazine which featured an amputee running a marathon in New York. From that moment on, Terry Fox decided he wasn’t going to let the cancer win, nothing would crush his spirit. He was going to run across Canada. The following 16 months he spent in the cancer clinic were gruesome, he watched people yell in pain, he saw families clutching each others hands in hope, and he would hear doctors delivering horrifying news to his neighboring patients. Terry Fox couldn’t leave the clinic just simply forgetting all those other patients who didn’t survive, he couldn’t bear thinking he was one-third of the few people who survived, and not do anything about it. So he trained himself for his marathon of hope, and soon approached the Canadian Cancer Society about his run. But the administrators were skeptical about his success, and asked him to search for some corporate sponsors in order to test his sincerity. Terry Fox persevered, earning sponsors and soon the Canadian Cancer Society promoted his run. Terry Fox inspired people everyday, as they heard his one-two thump, and money just kept flooding in towards him. Soon his goal of raising $1 million, became a goal of $22 million. He was so close to completing the run, when unfortunately, the cancer had reached his lungs, and he could no longer continue his marathon of hope. This didn’t necessarily mean he didn’t achieve his dream, he died knowing he earned $23.4 million dollars for all those cancer patients out there. And he lived to read the telegram sent from Isadore Sharp saying that every year a run would be held in his honour. The perseverance, and spirit of this courageous young man, led to the world being believers in cancer awareness. “How many people do something they really believe in? I just wish people would realize that anything's possible, if you try; dreams are made, if people try.” -Terry Fox.  Terry Fox demonstrates, that one can contribute so much to the world if they just try.



Men of the past have proved to be very courageous, and proved their determination to the world. What about the people of today? William Wissemann rejuvenates the characteristics of Sir Edmund Hillary, and Terry Fox, even though it may be personal it is very inspiring.  I feel I can connect to him the most because he is a teenager of today’s world, and proves to me I can achieve whatever I wish to achieve. William Wissemann is a youth who has conquered his dyslexia step by step. He was inspired by the Rubik's Cube, it taught him that sometimes in life you have to move a few steps backward in order to move forward. In the fifth grade he was pulled out of public school, to go to a special school, and at the time he still couldn’t consistently write his name. No matter how long it took William Wissemann, he patiently learned the symbols that were so called alphabets. He is very successful today, he is to graduate in May this year with a Bachelor of Arts degrees in computer science and photography from Bard College. William Wissemann is an inspiration for today’s teenagers like myself, that nothing is impossible. It makes me think, if he can achieve what ever he has perceived so far in life with dyslexia, then why can’t I. I also believe he is a great role model for the children and teenagers out there with dyslexia and tell them to never give up. Not only that, he also shows them that there is nothing to be ashamed of, and you can tell that he was first ashamed of it from his essay. The title of his essay itself is very inspiring and deep “Accomplishing Big Things in Small Pieces”. William Wissemann is a great example of why just trying is worth fighting for.



If we did not fight for perseverance, then this world would never move forward. We wouldn’t live in the society we do today, we have all sorts of technology today because of those men who dreamt and then persevered. These three men are so inspirational because they have great characters. And perseverance itself is inspirational because it allows the world to succeed and believe in miracles. Let’s join together and do what we can.

Wars Are Like Tornadoes

This photo demonstrates how people in the world must work together to fight against wars. This image causes us to reflect on so many things that need mending in our world today, and one of those pending problems is war. Wars always end with a chaotic after effect. No matter how long they last, no matter how many countries are involved in it. Innocent humans die for misunderstandings of others, it’s unjust how many people have to suffer from wars. Peace is worth fighting for. And taking a stand against wars takes us one step closer to a world beholding peace.

Wars are cruel, soldiers fight for their country, but many aren’t even recognized for their actions. Confused new borns, awake to the booms of a bomb blast, crying for their mommy not knowing that their moms won’t be coming back. Wars are unjustice so many people receive the full blow of the war and lose their loved ones. During World War 2 17 million soldiers died from 6 years of war many who still have family with sleepless nights. And millions of civilians and families died from bomb attacks. Do you really think sacrificing such a huge amount of people is worth the fight? I certainly don’t and if you want to look further in to World War two you can click here.

Wars are like tornadoes that come across in the most unexpected times, and sweeps everything with them when it ends. But for many when the war ends it’s actually the beginning. After Japan were defeated in a war and left the country of Vietnam, the French tried to take over Vietnam again. At the end of this war, and after the French were kicked out of the country Vietnam was not the same. Vietnam was divided in to two parts, people believed in different things and they were having a war within themselves. Families also faced starvation or illnesses that they usually couldn’t overcome. This wasn’t the only affect the war had on Vietnam, the chemicals permanently destroyed the land. Many of the survivors also went insane, after the gruesome days they’ve been through. We don’t want this to live on, we should put a stop to it.

I am not the only one out there who believes that wars should come to an end. The people who lived through such terrible wars also took a stand. Such as the situation in World War 2, once the American civilians realized that the war was bad many started uprisings and took a stand. At the end after many uprisings and persuasions the government had to withdraw all the American soldiers back from Vietnam. See how powerful it could be? When so many individuals take a stand it can make a difference. So join us and take a stand against wars.



If we did not fight for peace then the world would suffer from so many casualties. Without peace the world would be a spinning sphere of chaos. This is inspirational because the world could come together and take a stand. Peace is inspirational because it creates a domino effect. When one follows peace everyone does.

Rights to Gender Rights

The clock is ticking. And for some people it keeps ticking. Around the world girls my age are dealing with sexism and gender inequality. Their parents and family, believe that the only way they can offer help to their society is by cleaning houses, and making babies. The principles in their village is that men are the ones who should be educated, and they are the ones who run the village. The Girl Effect is here to prove them wrong. The Girl Effect is here to show them that girls are as important as boys, that girls can be a helping hand, that girls can make a change. Gender Equality is worth fighting for.

It all starts with a twelve-year-old girl. She could get educated, buy a cow earn money, and soon have a herd of cows. This quickly becomes a business that is earning sufficient money. This benefits her family, and they benefit the village buy get a supply of clean water. Do you see what this is getting at? Better villages, means better countries, which means a better world.

Gender Equality is worth fighting for because if women were given a chance to education they could make a huge impetus of change to this vast world.  

Additionally gender equality is worth fighting for because our world could be a harmonious place. Girls wouldn’t live in oppression, and all girls would have the chance to live their dream. The dream they thought they would keeping dreaming of. They could live a life just like you and me. Gender equality would give them the right to rights.

Without gender equality, the world would be in despair and children would suffer along with their mothers. The Girl Effect is a very inspirational because they are an impetus of change and trying to create a better world.

Just Because You Can.

Dream big,
whether it be for the
nation
generation
or imagination
just bring out your determination

Dream big,
like the sky
Let them fly and soar high

Dream big,
And don’t give a care
to those who dare, to stare

Dream big,
because you never know
people will grow
and follow your flow
and trust me
they will grow grow grow

Dream big,
just because you can.

This found poem that I have created, demonstrates what I believe is worth fighting for. In case you haven’t gotten that yet, my poem is about standing up for your dreams. Your dreams are worth fighting for because, when you achieve and live your dreams you become a free person. Dreaming itself gives you a freedom. When one dreams and achieves them, it shows that person has no restraints. Usually, people can’t achieve their dreams because they have restraints. Some one’s stopping them, or there is a law, or they have a big responsibility they can not abandon. These are the people, who will never live in peace, because they will regret not trying to achieve their dream. Because they will live knowing they were passive, and didn’t speak up for their dreams. When you achieve your goal, not only will it benefit you, but it will also benefit others. What I mean is that when one lives their dream it sets an example for the others, it gives them the urge to live theirs as well. For example , a house-wife really wants to get a job, but her husband is restraining her. When that woman speaks up to her husband, and she earns a living from her job, all the women around her who are suffering from gender inequality will stand up against their husbands and men as well. They will get the guts to speak their voice. Through this poem what I am trying to say is that dreams are the key to hope, and hope is the key to achieving your goal.

Racism is a Grown Up Disease

"Racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our children to spread it." This is the motto of Ruby Bridges foundation. Ruby Bridges was a civil rights activist and she had an early start to her journey. Bridges was born to a black family, during when the Board of Education started to desegregate schools.At the age of four Ruby Ruby moved to New Orleans with her parents in search of a better life for their expanding family. When it was time for her to start grade school, she got the chance to attend a white school. Ever since, students stopped attending her school, there were uprisings everyday outside her school, and she was transported to school with marshals. The motto of her foundation displays her life, and encourages us to stand up for what is right, and to take a stand against racism. Equality is worth being fought for.

Equality is important to fight for because without it a race shall always live in oppression and there would be no harmony in this world. Ruby Bridges had stood up for her race, she never gave way to the white people who would curse her everyday. She always stood up tall and ignored them. Everyday she would attend her lessons with Ms. Henry her teacher, even though she didn’t have any classmates or anyone to talk to. If one stands up like Ruby did, then it encourages and empowers everyone to do the same. Slowly as people watched this little girl being escorted everyday to her school with marshals, they started to encourage their children to enter white schools.

Its not only important to fight for equality so a race can live in peace, its also important to fight for equality so that the world can in live in harmony. Equality makes all human beings look at the other as one, and if an adult does then they will pass down this value generations and generations. Which supports Ruby Bridges motto "racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our children to spread it." If adults stop following the rules of discrimination then children will follow their paths which would create a sense of harmony. With peace between the different races on Earth everyone could have a chance to live in a utopian society.

Without equality, the world would deteriorate. This school wouldn’t even exist we wouldn’t know anything about each, we would never learn anything from each other. Ruby Bridges was the bridge between white and black education. She was an inspirational leader to not only the colored, but also to all the white people. They all started to realize what they never understood, and a little child like Ruby Bridges had to come around and set them right.

Creating a Better World

There are a lot of different challenges our world is facing, and the "Old World" could very well be our future, if I had the opportunity to create a "New World" I would focus, and hope for every human being to be educated. I would give education priority, because with education everyone has the power to understand what is really going on in the world, and what we need to do about it. Such as; keeping peace within the planet, sustaining natural resources, and developing a healthy community for everyone to live in. Imagine what the world would be like if everyone was taught to live in peace. There would be no war, nothing to die for, and no depression. People wouldn't have to face discrimination for their racial differences. With peace, the Nazi Reign wouldn't exist, World War 1 & 2 wouldn't be real, and Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks wouldn't need to take a stand. So many lives could have been saved if people were educated enough to believe in peace, and see the world as one. If the "Old World" had peace, then maybe it wouldn't be suffering from a major case of dystopia. With the power of education, people would learn the importance and urgency in sustaining natural resources. If the "Old World" understood the urgency to value their resources, then maybe it wouldn't have been "polluted and crowded and dying from its own poisons". If people were taught how important it was to use reusable bottles and bags, to use the bicycle when possible, and to switch/ of the lights when it isn't needed, then their world wouldn't have crumbled the way it did. The world could have provided more life, instead of the people having to run away in search of a better world. A whole world could have been saved if people were just taught how to value natural resources. Another example to prove the importance of education, is that with education, people wouldn't have to suffer from poverty and hunger. Since with education, you get the key to a job and money. There would be healthy and happy communities across the world for everyone to live in. They would then value education, and pass it down to their children. And this would go down generations, and generations. Do you see it? Do you see the power of education? Education is the birth to a "New World", if the "Old World" saw that, then maybe they wouldn't have been living in such chaos.

Portrait

I made a portrait of the Avox girl. I decided to do the Avox girl, because she had a strange relationship with Katniss, and the other portraits were some of the main characters, so I decided to do a side character. I did a portrait, because it looked fun to visualize a character, and it wasn't a very difficult project.