Personal Belief Statement

Life’s What You Make it Out of

            What do I believe in? Don’t take things for granted, live life to the fullest, hope for the best but prepare for the worst and just being happy and optimistic. I have had this philosophy since middle school. I always tried to keep my mindset an optimistic one. However, as a bratty 13 year old, I never really followed through with any of these. I had these in mind and I knew I should be following them, but I did not. Middle school and of course high school has taught me a lot about life and people. Life does not always go your way and sometimes you have to curve your ways a little to get along with people. Not everything is perfect.

            Don’t take things for granted. Why not? Because the person you were talking to today may not be here tomorrow. The object you owned today may not be in your possession tomorrow. Most people may say this quote is usually more used in a relationship or marriage but not necessary. I apply this to almost everything—my parents, my friends, my dogs, and my family. I constantly take my parents for granted and get mad when they are being super strict to me or whatnot. However, sometimes I take a step back and realize that I should appreciate that I have parents that care. Same goes for my friends, sometimes I take them for granted and be mean to them at times. I don’t always appreciate them, but I have learned to take special care of them because I will grow up with them. 

            Live life to the fullest. Why? Well, why not? Why should you let one obstacle in your life ruin the rest of it? Never hold back because you may never get the chance to say or do whatever it was you intended on doing. I always try to do as much as possible because I don’t want to miss anything. I want to live my life and I want to be able to look back when I’m 80 and say “Wow, I had such a great life.” I don’t want to live a life full of regrets. Life is short and believe it or not, time is ticking and time waits for no one. You can either take every chance to do as much as you can or give up.  Wake up every day and get pro-active and then at night, take a chance and reflect over the day. No regrets.

            Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. The quote says it all. One may never know what might come their way. I usually prepare myself for the worst case scenario in case it happens. I am probably considered a really cautious person. I want the best but if things go haywire, I won’t be as upset if I already have thought about the worst case scenario. I don’t always  put my hopes so high because it can end up not happening and I would be extremely upset. At least this way, I can be ready for any situation, negative or positive.

            Be happy and optimistic. Nothing beats than being happy. Life is too short to be upset or sad or mad all the time. I always try to look at the brighter side of things and be happy with what I have. I like being happy, who doesn’t? I try to make the best with whatever I have. I always spend time with people that make me happy and I always try to surround myself with positivity. If I surround myself with negativity, all I will be is negativity. All of middle school and high school, I have been through so much and I am pretty sure a lot of other people have been through a lot too. However, through all the bad experiences I have had, I have learned a lot from them. I learned that I am in control of my own happiness and I should not rely on anyone else to make me happy. No one can bring me down unless I allow them to. And that is pretty much what I have learned throughout middle school and high school.

            And these four philosophies are what I live by. 

The Grapes of Wrath Travel Journal: Chapters 16-19; Letter A

The two main important rules are about water and food; rules 9 and 10. Food and water are hard to find during this time and everyone needs to respect what they have. No water or food should be wasted. Water, as we've talked about, is important throughout the novel. It can represent many things, positive and/or negative. Water is important because everyone needs water to live. Having no food for a few days won't kill you, but no water means dehydration. Furthermore, Route 66 is dry and water was not easy to find or even buy. By following the rule, they can save themselves from lack of water/food and save other families too. Now that they're all traveling together, it is crucial for families to follow these rules and respect one another. Without teamwork and cooperation, nothing will get done and the journey will seem much more bleak. Keeping the water clean can keep everyone alive for a long time. Additionally, one should not eat near someone who is starving because it would be taunting. Everyone should try to share food instead of being selfish. Everyone could use a shoulder to lean on during this rough time. Traveling with people you trust will only make the whole system stronger. As the community builds, the journey can turn from hopeless to hopeful. No one should follow the motto: "One man for themselves" anymore.

The Grapes of Wrath Travel Journal: Chapters 16-19; Letter D*

"In the evening a strange thing happened: the twenty families became one family, the children were the children of all. The loss of home became one loss, and the golden time in the West was one dream" (193).

Before the journey, the families traveling West were self-centered and they only worried about their own family. It was every man for themselves. The man of the family had to do things that weren't necessarily morally right but they had no choice. They needed to make sure their family was going to survive before helping other families out. There was no way they were going to let their family struggle. It didn't make sense for one family to help another if they were still struggling. It's actually kind of pointless because now they're both struggling. 

Now as they make their way West, families meet other families and everyone just seems to combine and join together as one force. "Two heads are better than one" Everyone is achieving one dream: the American Dream. In this case, the American Dream is to start a new life in California and make a living. The Dust Bowl blew them away to the West. In chapter 17, everyone joins together and they begin to work together to travel West. Everyone's dream became one dream. Everyone shared the same happiness and pain. They all reach out and connect with each other and no one has to go through everything alone. Now everyone has someone else to lean on when they're not strong. They need each other's support and now that they have it, the journey to the West should be less intimidating. 

 

Now they're all in it together and no one will get left behind now <3 The true meaning of family. 

Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.

The Grapes of Wrath Travel Journal: Chapters 11-15; Letter D*

For this assignment, I chose two quotes that had an effect on me:

1) "No I ain't. You can't do that. I can't do that. It's too much - livin' too many lives. Up ahead they's a thousan' lives we might live, but when it comes, it'll on'y be one. If I go ahead on all of 'em, it's too much. You got to live ahead 'cause you're so young, but-- it's some more pork bones" (124).

This quote is said by Ma Joad and it touched me because it made me realize how my parents, grandparents and other family members had to go through this during the Vietnam War. My parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles had to flee to America hoping for a better life because the war in Vietnam was too hectic to handle. They hoped that America could be their "new beginning/new life". Ma Joad says this as they're on the road to the West and it makes me realize how she is so strong willed and acts like the rock/glue of the family; constantly staying strong and keeping everyone together. My parents probably realized that they had to leave behind their past and start over in America. Everyone only has one life and we have to live it to the fullest no matter how hard or rough times can be. We have to be able to live with the consequences that follow our decisions. We have to stay hopeful and be prepared for whatever is thrown at us. "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst." Reading this quote made me realize how lucky I am to be here right now and not worrying about fleeing to other countries for a better life. This quote was really meaningful to me and when I read it, I was touched by it.

2) "He was foolin', all the time...You fellas can make some kinda new life, but Grampa, his life was over an' he knowed it. An' Grampa didn' die tonight. He died the minute you took 'im off the place" (146).

This quote is said by Casy and this also touched me because it was heartbreaking to hear this. Grampa didn't want to leave his land in the first place. The land was a part of him and he couldn't let go of it. And when the time came that he had to leave, it kinda ripped his heart up and threw it on the ground. Since Grampa is old, the memories with his land was sincere and can not be forgotten. He literally had to leave who he was. Everyone else could start a new life since they haven't been with the land as long as he has been. He got attached to the land and it wasn't easy letting go of. He mentally died once he got off his land. I connected this with my grandparents. I'm sure this was how they felt when they had to leave Vietnam, they had to leave their belongings and home. They grew up in Vietnam and their home became part of them. My parents started over here in America but my grandma still wishes to one day be able to visit Vietnam again. My grandparents probably felt how Grampa Joad felt once he left the land and it's so heartbreaking especially because they're old </3 Things change, memories dont. I know my grandma will forever keep the memories she made/had in Vietnam when she was little.

Highway 66 Research: Travel Journal, Chapters 11-15; Letter B

Map of Highway 66

From history, Highway 66(Route 66) earned the name "Main Street of America". Throughout the 1930s, immigrants drove on Highway 66 to travel west. This highway extended from Illinois to California. During the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, many immigrants fled to California on Highway 66. As a result of the great migration, businesses on this highway made a lot of profit since it became more popular everyday. In 1946, Bobby Troup made a song based on this highway and called it "Route 66". Route 66/Highway 66 was the only way to reach the west and the only hope farm families had left. Highway 66 is also displayed as the "Mother Road" as Steinbeck describes in The Grapes of  Wrath. After World War II, people also began to move to California taking Route 66.

Family Migrating to California

During the migration to the West as a result of the Dust Bowl, many cars were not designed to travel great distances and to carry heavy materials. Some families had to stop along the road because their car broke down and hoped that someone also taking the Highway 66 would help them. At the end of Chapter 12, a family with a broken car was fortunately helped by another family with a Sedan. Some people got lucky and received help from others but some got left behind. 

The small service stations made a lot of profit as Route 66 became crowded with migrating families. Everyone needed gas, food, water, supplies and these places were great for all basic necessities.

Many cars had to stop frequently for gas since their cars were not the best and most efficient. Thus, gas stations also made a lot of profit as their town was booming with migrating families. 

Sources: Route 66 

Route 66 Today

History of Route 66

Grapes Of Wrath Travel Journal: Chapters 1-10, Letter F

Theme: Faith/Religion

1. "...There ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue. There's just stuff people do. It's all part of the same thing..." (32).
2.  "... All that's holy, all that's what I didn' understan', All them things is the good things" (128). 

The theme of faith is definitely developing throughout the novel because it is mentioned from chapter 2 up to chapter 10.  Jim Casy, although no longer a preacher, still constantly talks about God and the human spirit. In chapter 2, he believes that there are things that people just do and it should not be judged as bad or good. In chapter 10, he still believes that all things are good things. He seems to reevaluate the concept of religion and holiness. He believes there are good things from humans, whether in their heart or through their actions. The theme of religion will continue to develop as the novel progresses.

Grapes of Wrath Travel Journal: Chapters 1-10, Letter E

3 Examples of Personification

1. "In the gray sky a red sun appeared, a dim red circle that gave a little light, like dusk; and as that day advanced, the dusk slipped back toward darkness, and the wind cried and whimpered over the fallen corn" (2).
• This is personification because the wind is described to have "cried and whimpered". Since wind is not a living object, it is given living, human traits.
2.  "The truck tires sang on the road" (13).
• Personification because truck tires do not sing, only humans.
  
3.  "You know what cotton does to the land; robs it, sucks all the blood out of it" (32).
• Personification because cotton is described to "rob" and "suck the blood" of the land, emphasizing the damage from growing cotton.

Personification is used in order to connect with the readers. Personification puts human traits on non-living objects, making them more vivid. Readers can understand clearer, sympathize with or react emotionally to the story because of personification. Personification puts a greater emphasis on objects and makes it easier to connect with those objects. Readers can understand on a clearer and deeper level just by recognizing personification. Personification can connote positivity and/or negativity. All the quotes I chose are about the wind, road and land. So far, in chapters 1-10, Grapes of Wrath is about the struggles of the Dust Bowl. Personification in these quotes make the story more alive and more dramatic. The mood that it brings is usually depressing but not always. For example, in quote #2, it connotes a positive effect because singing is usually done when one is happy or cheerful. For quotes #1 and #3, it connotes negativity because the wind "cried" and "whimpered" and cotton "robs" the land. As a result of personification, every image can be seen through a more critical lens.