The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Summary
The main character was given the choice of what road he will take. Being a person who traveled a lot, he carefully examined the two roads and noticed that the two were grassy but the other was more worn. He chose the second road and said to himself that he will go back and take the other road but doubted it in the end. He only knew that someday when he becomes old, he would tell people that he chose the one that was less traveled, the one he had not taken and that it was the decision that made changes in his life.

Conflict or Situation in Poetry

The first conflict happened when the main character was having trouble on which of the two roads will he take. The second occurred when he was thinking of going back and taking the first road.

Theme

The poem was implying to us that if we have to choose between difficult choices, we have to study them and choose what we think will make a difference. We may regret or not, and it’s not an easy thing to do but we have to do it.
 

Author’s Use of Style and Language

Robert Frost mainly used symbolism in this poem, telling us “two roads” but subconsciously saying “two choices”. He also mentioned a sigh which may mean regret of the choice he made. The words he used were simple words which we use in our everyday lives.
 

Analysis

There were two roads in front of the main character which he has to choose. Obviously, he needed to take only one because he couldn't go down both roads which made him sad and sorry for himself.  The first road he examined goes nowhere he can see because there was a bend in the road. The second road which he said he took was normal like the other one but grassier and looked like it needed a passer-by to step on it.  Although it was grassy, when examined carefully it was just the same as the other one, worn. That morning, he noticed that the roads were taken. I can’t decide if it was equally taken as what was told on the poem or the opposite. But it was indeed taken. After that, he said he would like to walk on the first road some other day. Then, he doubted it because he doesn’t know if he would do it. He knew that when he grows older, he would think of the day he decided and sigh. This sigh may mean anything: regret, satisfaction or contentment. I would like to believe it was regret. He used "—" in the third to the last sentence as to say that his thought was interrupted or he was supposed to say something but changed it. In the end, he repeated “Two roads diverged…” and this time he said that he took the road he had not taken which made all the difference in his life may it be good or bad but he knew it was not really the truth.

Personal Reflection

Life is about choices. I know I have the freedom to choose. I may not want to make a decision in a situation but I know I have to do it like Robert Frost. There is no easy way out but there is a smarter solution to deal with it. Examine the choices.  Don’t just choose recklessly. Weigh your options. I may regret it in the future. I don’t know. I may like what will happen but I’ll cross the bridge when I come to it. I only know it will make a difference.

Reference: http://www.bartleby.com/119/1.html

The Musician I Am Now

I learned to play the piano when I was eight years old but music was not a passion of mine that time. When I learned how to dance, that is when I realized I love music. After that, I started playing the piano again with eagerness. It is because of how my body and mind started to understand that the rhythm and flow in dancing is just the same with the rhythm in playing a piece and how the melody flows when you are playing

Before I found my way to the Conservatory of Music, I was asked to describe music. I answered that music is an art that gives people the enjoyment, entertainment and emotions whenever they play their instrument or listen to a sound or song. Now that I can call myself a real musician, I know that I should have said that music is is an art that makes you show your passion whenever you sing, dance or play the instrument. It is the sensation in which you love to perform in front of an audience and appreciate every form of sound there is in the world. It is embracing your instrument and playing it with compassion and greatness.

Years ago, I always got nervous before and during the time of my performance. After eight years and after passing the music diagnostic exam, I felt that my confidence boost but still I get fidgety at times. Before, I only know how to play the piano. Now, feeling confident as a musician, I started learning to play the violin as my minor.

Before becoming a musician, I thought it will be an easy job because most people do it. Now that I am learning music, I found that being a musician is a unique but difficult job. It is unique and difficult because you have to be brave to be one. You have to be courageous to face the discrimination of other people to musicians, to meet what other people expect from you and to face that there’s a possibility that you may not get a job or you may get a job but with a low salary. Also being a musician is a chance to touch the soul of people by making music and inspire other people. Being a musician is no easy life. You have to rehearse and practice daily while other professions only need to study and memorize and then they have it all. Lastly, being a musician is unique because you should have the talent and brains not like the other professions that a brain is only what they should possess.

Copyright ©  2011 Em Luzande. All rights reserved.

Flavored Corns

It was on the eight of March 2012 when my classmates and I planned to help a person in any forms we can think of. Our first plan was to play the guitar and sing on the street and give the money we would earn to the needy. Sadly, this plan didn’t work out. Not far away, we saw a man selling flavored corns. It looked like he wasn’t selling anything. That’s when an idea kicked in. We went to the vendor and ask if we could help him. Surprisingly, he said yes. I mean, we were strangers to him and yet he didn’t hesitate to trust us. He was smiling while we were pursuing some potential customers. Then we met a boy who looked like he hasn’t eaten yet. We gave him 10 pesos and asked him if he’s going to use it to buy himself a food and not unnecessary things. He said yes, then went to the vendor and bought some flavored corns. He said thank you to us and told the vendor that the food was delicious.

Those experiences taught me valuable lessons. First, there are still people who can trust you and are willing to receive any help. I’m a person who isn’t eager when it comes to other people helping me. Maybe, it’s my pride. The vendor served as an eye-opener for me. He taught me that it isn’t bad to ask for help and trust someone. He also showed me that I should be happy with everything that surrounds me, that I should smile often. The boy, even though he is very tiny, taught me a huge lesson. And that is to be thankful with what I have. I take things for granted, being brought up by parents who give everything I need and want. I forgot to thank God. I forgot to thank my parents. But thanks to this boy, I will always be thankful with what I have. This boy is not only thankful, but also appreciative. He appreciated the fact that his food was delicious. He boy made me remembered to appreciate even the small things.

Poverty is something I’m not fond to talk about. It hurts me that people are experiencing this while I lavishly spend my life. It makes me think that I’m an insensitive person. But because of these experiences, it made me realize that I can do something. I have learned great things. But I would say that realizing I could do something so meaningful and helpful to others would be the most important thing I've learned. I didn't know I could make a big change or difference to others by a simple way. I didn't know I was capable of doing great things. I would love to help other people and put in action all the great things in my mind someday.

Copyright ©  2012 Em Luzande. All rights reserved.

An Introvert

I was a consistent honor student in my old school. From nursery until fourth year high school, I was always on the list. It’s not easy studying in my former school since the passing grade was seventy-five percent in elementary and intermediate level and sixty-five percent in high school level. Every time my former school conducts a parent-teacher conference, my teacher would commend me to my parents, saying I did well in this subject, or that I’m polite and attentive in class. After which, she would tell them what I need to improve.

Every school year, my teachers would say the same thing I need to improve to get higher grades than I have. Then, my mom and I would have the same talk and give me advice. I must tell you that it was very deafening to hear the same comment every year. What my teachers told my parents was that I was never reciting in the class. And if I do, you can actually count it using your fingers. That’s my weakness. I was never a speaker.

There is a reason why I don’t recite in class. It’s that if I would speak out my mind, I want either to be commended or not to be noticed by people because humiliation does not wear off immediately. It doesn’t help when people keep on judging and mocking my pronunciation. I should tell you that my confidence had worn off and reached its lowest point. I took several measures to improve myself. My sister used to flash some cards with words written on it and I would recite them. I would read lots of paragraph and would search if I don’t know how to pronounce the words.

I don’t want to give up because one day, I know it would come in handy just like what Sir Valois keeps on telling us. That’s why up to this day, I must say I’m still struggling. I’m still trying hard. And I’m still facing my weakness, turning it into strength because I’d like believe what Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that our strength grows out of our weaknesses.

Copyright © 2012 Em Luzande. All rights reserved.

Encouraging People to Start Reading Books

This is one of the requirements in ENG 3. I wrote this a day before the submission date. My professor who is a Doctor of Philosophy and Literature, commended this essay.

While technology is improving rapidly than the speed of light, books are taking their time to be noticed. People prefer to read materials from a monitor than from a piece of paper because of the convenience of skimming or glancing of chief ideas or plot. Another enemy of books is time. People, nowadays, say that they do not have the time to sit down with a good book. And this is when you can enter and start a conversation to encourage them to read a real book.

To start off a conversation, ask them what hinders them to read a book. Probably, they would reason out that they have no time and it is a heavy task for them. First and foremost, reading is not a task but a privilege to learn, share and discover things that are useful and informative. In order for a book to be truly useful to them, know their interests and what will increase their excitement and curiosity in books; then, recommend one suited to their likes or you can just purchase one for them as a gift. For example, if you are motivating music students, tell them to read Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton, wherein Hamilton tells that some of the gods and goddesses have their musical instruments and muses and sirens used music for their objectives.

If your objective is to have people read books often, never criticize them; instead, involve them in a discussion with an avid reader in the circle. It will not only boost their curiosity but also have them wanting to participate actively in the discussion. You can also engage yourselves in buying books which you can also share from time to time. Check out if your favorite bookstore is on sale or having discounts. That will surely help in having your discussion going.

When you are having a discussion with the person you are motivating, use the vocabulary you have learned from books. Have them think critically what the definitions of those words are. If they asked for its definition, make sure to mention from what book you learned the word. For instance, you tell them that you hate misogynistic, homophobic and racist people and consider them as very close-minded human-beings. It is obvious that they would be asking for the definition of the words. Tell them the meaning and mention that you got it from Dana Reinhardt’s A Brief Chapter in my Impossible Life. It is also a good opportunity to acknowledge that it is a good book to read.

A good book has an almost-perfect grammar and spelling, that meets its objective to teach and inform others. Because you want to teach and encourage people to read, you must also do the same. When writing and typing words, you should never use shortcuts. Show them what you have learned from reading books. Start your sentence with a capitalized letter and end it with punctuation just like books. Make sure the spelling of your words is correct. Since they know that the reason why you write and type properly is because you are into books, this will motivate them and have them try to read books so that they will also have correct grammar and spelling.

When describing a book, you should spell out all its content: the twists, climax or even the denouement. Why? It is because you want to give them all the opportunity to have an interest to the book. If you are describing a book to a teenager, be sure to highlight the events which involve intimate relationships, peer pressure and problems during puberty. If you are describing it to an adult, tell them that the book is about the hardships of finding a job or owning and managing a company. Be sure to find the appropriate manner that will suit the future reader when describing a book.

In the end, remind yourself that you are encouraging future readers to read from pieces of paper. Seek all the potential ways to help them get into reading books such as recommending books that will meet their interests, having a discussion with a bookworm around them, using your wide vocabulary while having a conversation with them, writing and typing the whole word rather than using shortcuts, and describing a book in an appropriate manner that will suit them. The greatest reward you will receive here is the moment you see these people sit down with a book in their hand and have their time spent on reading it. And that will all happen and take place, once you start encouraging.

Copyright ©  2011 Em Luzande. All rights reserved.