127 Hours

"There is no force more powerful than the will to live." When we first discussed this quote in class, I immediately thought of drowning. I remembered hearing this quote on Teen Wolf (yes I'm quoting Teen Wolf sorry), "You know when you’re drowning you don’t actually inhale until right before you black out. It’s called voluntary apnea. It’s like no matter how much you’re freaking out, the instinct to not let any water in is so strong that you won’t open your mouth until you feel like your head’s exploding. Then when you finally do let it in, that’s when it stops hurting. It’s not scary anymore, it’s… it’s actually kind of peaceful.”  I also thought of  crazy incidents where people are stranded. Life of Pi came to mind as well. I thought of how long he was stuck at sea and how even trapped on a boat with a tiger he managed to keep himself sane and alive long enough to find shore. I also thought of how people resort to cannibalism in order to survive. Before this lesson, I had watched 127 hours at home. I always enjoy doing things more than once (like re-reading a book) because you pick up on things you may have missed the first time around. This movie was no exception. I think my viewing experience changed a bit now that I'm older, forgot about some details and was generally more aware when watching. It's like the first time you go through something just to go through it, then you go through a second time and look for your answers.The first time I watched the movie I was interested but I wasn't aware. I didn't completely understand what Aaron went through. The struggle he went through didn't really sink in. I hadn't realized how much strength he would have to possess to go without food and water for 5 days while enduring freezing temperatures, hallucinations and not being able to sleep. Watching the movie the second time really let all of that sink in. Before I was like "WOW he cut off his own arm  to survive!!!!!!!" but then I learned what he really did and its like " WOW HE CUT OFF HIS OWN ARM. HE HAD TO BREAK HIS OWN BONE. HE HAD TO CUT OUT A NERVE. AND HE FELT IT ALL BECAUSE WHERE HE WAS CUTTING, HIS ARM WASN'T DEAD AND IF THAT'S NOT BAD ENOUGH HE HAD TO USE A DULL KNIFE TO CUT HIS BARE FLESH. ON TOP OF THAT HE WAS LOSING A GREAT AMOUNT OF BLOOD WHILE HE WAS ALREADY STARVING AND HADN'T DRANK WATER IN 5 DAYS. AND AFTER ALL THAT HE GRABS HIS CAMERA AND TAKES A PICTURE OF HALF OF HIS ARM HE LEFT IN THE ROCK THEN JOGS FOR WHAT PROBABLY FELT LIKE HOURS TO HIM WHILE FEELING THE DIZZINESS FROM ALL THE BLOOD LOSS TO FIND HELP. MOST OF ALL, AFTER ALL THAT HE CONTINUES TO GO ROCK CLIMBING. AMAZING"
Some people after seeing what he went through would think he was crazy for continuing to rock climb after having his accident but I would have to disagree. After finding out he still continues to do what he loves I was happy for him . I feel like it's very courageous of him ( mostly because if that happened to me I would never leave the house again)(heck I don't think I would have even made it past stabbing my self in the arm the second that knife hit skin I would have passed out)(actually I probably wouldn't have even made it that far I'm a wimp I probably would have stopped trying as soon as I ran out of food and water)(maybe even the second it turned night time I can't handle the cold and the 3 blankets I'm using right now  in my almost 70 degree house while typing would have to agree). The point of the movie, I believe, is to show, like Arron himself said, that "When something happens, it's a trauma, but we decide if its going to be a tragedy or a triumph." Aaron definitely turned this experience into a triumph. Instead of drowning himself in self-pity he did something. He didn't give up. He took action, freed himself, learned from his mistakes, and took this opportunity to better himself.

Dasani - Invisible Child

After reading the 5-part story on Dasani and her family I was left in deep thought with many questions. I had a few questions when reading like, Why does the city not put money towards fixing the shelter?, Why do they even examine the shelter if nothing is being done to fix it?, and Why do the police not take the problems going on in the building, like rape, burglary, etc., seriously?.I was angry that all these people are being ignored. And that's just at Auburn there's tons of shelters out there with families just like the ones that lived with Dasani that are being left behind. I get disgusted when thinking of all the children that suffer in these shelters and how their families are probably trying to leave but they don't have anyone to help. At the end of the story I was left wondering what Dasani was doing now. The common questions like what happened to Chanel and Supreme, how are they liking their home, how is the family doing, etc, came to mind. What really struck out to me was the way the author ended the story. I was confused on why the author would leave us so abruptly without a conclusion but, I'm starting to realize that no ending would be satisfactory for me. I think the author was right in leaving the story off where she did. Even with more parts I feel I would still want more because Dasani's story is never ending. She has so much of her life left and is full of so much potential. The author did her job, showed us what we needed to see and when she felt she got her point across she stopped. I feel like she's leaving the story unwritten for Dasani to write herself. Overall, I really enjoyed the piece. I learned a lot about being homeless and how shelters work. I learned that a roof above someone’s head doesn't necessarily mean they have a home and that homeless shelters aren't the safe havens I believed them all to be. I was able to understand why so many people never get out of poverty and how there is an impulse to buy new things once you have the money to afford them. After reading about their life, I felt very grateful for what I have but shameful at the same time for all the things I take for granted on a daily basis. 

Despite our lives being so different, I see a bit of myself in Dasani. She's determined, filled with hope, is genuinely curious about everything, and never quits. I admire her strength and her ability to rise back up after having a bad day as well as her decision to make a better life for herself. Rather than get into drugs, stealing, etc., she planned on saving up her money and buying her family a home and now she aspires to go to college which I think is wonderful. If I could talk to Dasani I would tell her to never give up. I would tell her that she shouldn't let where she is from hold her back from achieving her dreams. I would tell her that she has the potential to accomplish great things. I would tell her how much I admire her. Lastly, I would tell her that the president and his family do live at the white house.