Blog for Friday, February 20th

1) The most influential leader I've had in my life would have to be my mother. When I was about 7 or 8 years old, my parents divorced and my mother acquired custody of y two brothers and me. Growing up with my mother as my guardian definitely shaped who I am and who I will become. She was very adamant about showing my brothers and me the good side of life. She taught us to always stay loyal to each other, even if we may not like each other at the time. She was also the spiritual leader of our household and she taught us to always trust in the Lord throughout all of the trials of life. My father wasn't absent from our childhood, as my mother and father stayed friends after their divorce (they were very keen on the idea of giving us a good childhood). He definitely had an influence on my life, but my mother was most certainly the most influential person in my life, and still is today.
2) Mr. Keating's statement symbolizes that surviving in life is necessary, but what we choose to do with it is truly beautiful. He is saying that the career that each young man is destined to pursue is what will keep them alive, but what they choose to do with their life is the deciding factor in their happiness. I agree with Mr. Keating because the young men had no interest in pursuing the careers laid out for them, for the most part. He was saying that they should try and do something beautiful and original with their lives rather than simply conforming. I believe that poetry is very important because it can be a very powerful influence on someone's life. Furthermore, there are many types of poetry, such as music, sports, writing, etc., that many people indulge in every day.
3) I completely agree with Mr. Keating's philosophy to constantly change one's point of view in order to fully understand the situation. Mr. Keating wanted the boys to not only consider the thoughts and opinions of the author, as they had always been taught, but also to consider their own opinion on the writing. The students were so unaccustomed to thinking for themselves that they were never able to acknowledge their own thoughts. The other teachers (and society in general) just wanted the young men to follow in their predecessors' footsteps and to be like everyone else. Changing perspective is important when assessing any situation and allows a person to understand all points of view.