Hypatia of Alexandra

If I were to put myself in Raphael’s fresco, The School of Athens I would be Hypatia of Alexandria. Hypatia was the first women to make a substantial contribution to the renaissance. She was a contributor to mathematics, philosophy and astronomy. She is a brave woman who strives to prove herself during a time period where women are not blessed with the opportunity to learn and are treated as less then men. Even though her work was considered paganism by the Church her passion for learning lived on.
I like to think of myself as a persistent person. I do not give in easily and I am passionate about my learning. Like Hypatia, I do not let people stand in my way and use my determination to overcome obstacles. I also hope to make some sort of contribution in order to better the world, like she did. Hypatia of Alexandra truly is an inspiration to all womankind.

'The School of Athens' bye Raphael

One way of finding out about an era in history, is looking at its art. From art, we can identify what the people of that time period were interested in, there clothing, values and religion. Usually you can look at a painting and know where it was originated, the Renaissance time period is a great example of this. As people started to become more interested in secular subjects, their art started to revolve more around it as well. This is shown in Raphael’s fresco, The School of Athens. The Renaissance was the “rebirth” of knowledge. People started to question and observe the world around them. They tested theories, looked for lost knowledge and enlightened others with their intelligence. Some of the greatest scientist, mathematicians, philosophers and astronomers lived during the renaissance, and were all brought together under one roof in Raphael’s fresco.

Leonardo Da Vinci- A True Renaissance Man

The renaissance was the rebirth of inquiry, rediscovery and refinement. Da Vinci sought out truth, information, answers and knowledge. He had an interest in discovering both old and new knowledge, and making it better, a curiosity in the world around him and discovered multiple ideas for new technology. Da Vinci was a self-taught architect, engineer, artist, mathematician, scientist and inventor. Because he was so precise his sketches and paintings are amazingly detailed and proportional. Da Vinci had an obvious interest in the flight of birds and was the first to think of the hot air balloon, cannon, tank and many other magnificent ideas. Leonardo Da Vinci was truly a renaissance man.

Hanging on a Tree

"Hanging on a Tree"

~by Vanessa Redgrave

I saw a black man hanging on a tree
burnt by the sun as black as black can be
What can I do to set you free?
I asked and his white bones answered me
called to me
to me

Don't send your ships to us across the sea
Don't buy our food or sell your cars to me
If you're afraid then please don't say,
you pity me
you pity me
you pity me

A thousand million pounds invested in my land
in trade and investment that's a million grand
Take it away, oh take it away
If you won't then please don't say,
you pity me
you pity me
you pity me

If you make money from Verwoerd, how can you tell him that he's wrong?
If you prefer to make your money then don't sing my freedom song
You say that you want to make me free
Then don't trade with the men who are killing me
Or don't you say, you pity me

And don't you say "it's a risky thing to do
I'm worried that a boycott might be bad for you"
I know how to live on nothing much better than you
So don't you say
Oh, please don't say,you pity me

So now you can choose, but oh don't wait too long
For my brothers they will fight and their freedom wish is strong
Your leaders say that they pity me,
but your thousand million pounds are the seed of the tree
On which they're hanging
hanging, hanging
On which they're hanging me

Oh, my loving friends I can't get from my mind
those white bones in the sun
that whispered on the wind
If there's no help soon then hanging from this tree
will be thousands and thousands like you and like me
No money making then and no ships upon the sea
Just white bones in the sun hanging, hanging,
hanging on a tree

Racial Segregation

"Hanging on a tree" by Venessa Redgrave, is about Anti-Aparthied which means it is against the racial segregation in Africa. This song is a plee to the Britsh to stop investing in the African government in order to show their disaproval of aparthied. "A thousand million pounds invested in my land, in trade and investment that's a million grand, Take it away, oh take it away, If you won't then please don't say,you pity me, you pity me you pity me" The writer is saying to the british, not to invest in the government which supports the aparthied and then pretend to support anti-aparthied. The African Government is killing and taking away the priveliges of black Africans. "Verwoerd", mentioned in the song, was the African prime-minister at the time who supported apartide. This song transends time and culture. Racial Segregation and killings have happened all over the world thoughout time and cultures. The message in this poem is to not support racism.

Adventure

Adventure

Adventure lays obscure
Overshadowed bye fear
Only the brave, able to see past their fears, marvel at the beauty it has to offer

~Kayla Cook

In the Alchemist, Santiago seeks adventure. Santiago makes the choice to leave his life in Andalusia in pursuit of his treasure at the Egyptian pyramids. We learn from Santiago’s journey that it’s not about finding his treasure, it’s about the adventure, the people he meets and knowledge he gains along the way. Adventure is everywhere, but sometimes we don't seek it because it is overshadowed bye our fear. Only when we learn to listen to our heart, we will overcome our fears. Don't ignore your destiny, seek adventure.

The Climb of Life

Determination


Determination will help me to achieve my destiny. Although I have not yet discovered my destiny, when I do I will not give up until I have reached it. With determination I will be able to overcome obstacles and keep striving. I will push myself and not stop until I have reached the end of the journey; there will be no turning back once I have started. I want to be proud of what I have accomplished. I now know that fate does not control my destiny, I am the controller of my own destiny and I plan to never give up. With my determination, I know I will succeed.

Alchemist Essay

Discover Yourself

“When I have truly been searching for my treasure, every day has been luminous, because I’ve known that every hour was a part of the dream that I would find it. When I have been truly searching for my treasure I’ve discovered things along the way that I never would have seen had I not had the courage to try things that seemed impossible for a shepherd to achieve.” (Coelho 250) In the Alchemist, Santiago, a shepherd, dreams of a treasure at the Egyptian pyramids and decides to follow his destiny. He leaves his life and sheep in Andalusia in pursuit of his treasure. During his journey, Santiago meets new people who help guide him to his treasure. Santiago learns to overcome his fears, find love and understand the soul of the world. Santiago is able to achieve his destiny by acting courageous, staying open-minded throughout his journey and optimistic to new adventures.

During his journey, Santiago uses his courage, and fearlessness to overcome many obstacles. First Santiago makes the decision to follow his destiny. He leaves his life as a shepherd, and sells his sheep for money to get to the pyramids, where Melchizedek, the king of Salem, tells Santiago where his treasure is. Later after arriving at the oasis, Santiago shows courage by presenting the omen he saw in the desert to the chieftains. “The oasis is neutral ground. No one attacks an oasis” (Coelho). The oasis is said to be safe, however Santiago reads an omen (from the flight of hawks) that shows him an army is coming. Santiago at first does not want to tell the chieftains about the omen, but the camel driver convinces him to do so. Had he not done so, Santiago would have not met the alchemist. Finally, Santiago, during his journey, becomes fearless through listening to his heart. The alchemist teaches Santiago that you will never be able to escape from your heart. So it’s better to listen to what it has to say. That way you’ll never have to fear an unanticipated blow. “The boy continued to listen to his heart as they crossed the desert… He lost his fear.” (Coelho) Not only is Santiago courageous throughout his journey, but Santiago is optimistic to new adventures.

Staying optimistic throughout his journey helps Santiago keep following his destiny. First Santiago keeps an optimistic attitude himself after being robbed in the Tangier market. While sitting in a bar in Africa a boy about the same height and age approaches Santiago. Santiago tells him that he needs to reach the Egyptian pyramids, and the boy offers to help. As they walk though the market, Santiago is distracted for a few moments and Santiago’s new friend is nowhere to be found. “He looked around at the empty plaza again, feeling less desperate then before. This wasn’t a strange place: it was a new one.” (Coelho) Even after being robbed, Santiago keeps optimistic. Later, after working an entire year for the crystal merchant, Santiago still chooses to follow his destiny. When Santiago is robbed in the market he is left with no money to return to Andalusia. Therefore Santiago starts work for a crystal merchant. After a year of work Santiago has enough money to buy himself a hundred and twenty sheep. “But I’m going back to the fields I know, to take care of my flock again.” He said that to himself with certainty but he was no longer happy with his decision. He had worked an entire year to make a dream come true, and that dream, minute by minute, was becoming less important. Maybe because that wasn’t really his dream.” (Coelho) Santiago instead uses his money to travel to the pyramids, and keep following his destiny. Finally Santiago stays optimistic after being attacked, and discovering his treasure is not at the Egyptian pyramids after all. While digging for his treasure, a couple of refugees from the tribal wars approach Santiago in need of money. After finding the gold, given to Santiago by the alchemist, the men figure he has more gold hidden underground. “And although his mouth was bleeding and swollen, he told his attackers that he had twice dreamed of a treasure hidden near the pyramids of Egypt.” (Coelho) The attackers leave, and the leader tells Santiago “two years ago right here on this spot, I had a recurrent dream, too. I dreamed that I should travel to the fields of Spain and look for a ruined church where shepherds and their sheep slept…” Santiago’s treasure was right where he started his journey. “His heart was bursting with joy. Because now he knew where his treasure was.” (Coelho) Santiago uses his optimism to overcome difficulties during his journey and an open-mind to open up to new challenges, experiences, and knowledge.

Santiago must maintain an open-mind throughout his journey to gain knowledge and reach his destiny. Even before he set off on his journey, Santiago has an open-mind. First Santiago becomes a shepherd. As a boy Santiago wanted to travel. His fathers tell him that “Amongst us, the only ones who travel are shepherds,” Although shepherds are not as respected, Santiago decides to become one because he is open to new experiences. Later once Santiago has started his journey he meets the English man. The English man has a suitcase full of books and is traveling to meet an alchemist. The English man tells Santiago of alchemy, the elixir of life and the philosophers stone which can turn metal into gold and prolong life. Santiago learns of the Soul of The World, which helps an individual discover his destiny, because Santiago is not quick to judge and is willing to listen to the Englishman. Finally Santiago encounters the alchemist. After telling the chieftains of the omen he had seen, about an army coming to attack the oasis, Santiago is approached by the alchemist. “If the warriors come here, and your head is still on your shoulders at sunset, come find me”, said the stranger (Coelho) By keeping an open-mind and coming to find the alchemist, Santiago learns to listen to his heart. The alchemist teaches Santiago all he needs to learn and guides him on his journey. “This is why alchemy exists,” the boy said “so that everyone will search for his treasure, find it, and then want to be better than he was in his former life.” (Coelho) Santiago is able to find is treasure by using his courage, optimism, and by being open-minded.

Because Santiago remains courageous, optimistic and open-minded, he is able to find his treasure and achieve his destiny. Courage is one of the most important traits to have when following ones destiny, without courage Santiago never would have decided to follow his destiny, tell the chieftains about the omen he had seen, or become fearless by listening to his heart. He did not achieve his destiny by this trait alone. Santiago kept an optimistic attitude throughout his journey which kept him going after being robbed in the market, after working an entire year for the crystal merchant, and after being attacked and discovering his treasure was not at the pyramids after all. Santiago maintains an open-mind which helps him fulfill his dream of traveling by becoming a shepherd, gain knowledge from the English man and finally encounter the alchemist. Everyone should follow Santiago’s example realize their destiny and strive to achieve it. “At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world’s greatest lie.” (Coelho) Our lives are not controlled by fate. You are the controller of your own destiny and when you realize that destiny you will have a choice, like Santiago to choose to follow your destiny or not. You might find yourself confused and scared. The choices we make during our confusion and fear can determine the person we become. Make a choice and discover yourself.