Beauty and Brains

“The School of Athens” (by Raphael) mirrors society by depicting elements of the Renaissance era. The Renaissance was Europe’s ‘rebirth’ of knowledge that was lost in the middle ages. Society began to break free of the Church’s absolute control so that they could observe and discover the world around them. They turned to their Greek and Roman roots for ideas and inspiration that would later mould their culture. “The School of Athens” mirrors all of these elements. It is a gathering of all the major humanist figures of the Renaissance era. They represent science, mathematics and philosophy, three things that were revolutionized during the Renaissance. The fact that they are gathered in the school of Athens, shows that the root of all their genius came from their past. The room itself is a secular fantasy. Plato and Aristotle stand at the focal point, dividing the room into two sections of practical and abstract. People are discussing and learning about geography from Ptolemy, Astronomy from Zoroaster, and Math from Pythagoras himself. There is a debate going on between several individuals, and many hold books and are writing. These events mirror those that were happening at the time in Europe. Explorers were venturing farther than ever before, bringing back exotic concepts from faraway lands and gaining a better picture of the Earth. Astronomers were observing the stars and planets, so that they may deepen their understanding of the universe. Math was evolving into an essential concept that was needed to live life successfully. The debating represents all the turmoil that was forming between the church and the humanists. The books and writing represent the printing press, which was revolutionizing Europe at the time by spreading secular ideas, educating the lower classes, forming critical thinking, spurring the urge to question the church’s authority, creating national identity and promoting individualism. Raphael has created a masterpiece on the walls of the papal palace. A masterpiece that not only epitomizes the beauty of classical renaissance artwork, but also emulates a wide variety of events that was significant to the Renaissance and its development.

Who Would I Be?

If I were to be included in the painting, “The School of Athens” I would see myself as Heraclitus. In the painting, he is depicted sitting on the bottom step, resting his head on one hand atop of a marble table and scribbling a few notes on a piece of paper. Heraclitus was a Greek philosopher. He was Pre-Socratic, which meant that he lived before classical western philosophy was developed by Socrates, and rejected using traditional mythological stories to explain the phenomenon around him. He took a more rational route, asking questions like “From where does everything come?” “How might we describe nature mathematically” or “From what is everything created?” He was of a distinguished family, and regarded himself as self-taught and a pioneer of wisdom. He was sometimes called “The obscure” or “The weeping philosopher” for the lonely life he led, and his contempt for the human race. He was famous for thinking of time as something that is infinite and constantly in flux, and for believing in the unity of opposites. He stated “The path up and down is one and the same.” This means that though two things may be opposites, they are connected and can change at any one time. He also created Logos, an important term in philosophy, rhetoric, religion, and analytical psychology. I see myself as him, because I too like to spend long periods of time mulling over single events in my life. I have a curiosity about the questions of pre-Socratic philosophy. Though I am faithful to my religion, I don’t feel I fully believe all that it states. I spend time wondering if anything really does happen after death, and about how infinite the universe is. Like him, at times I feel I am leading a lonely life. However I do not consider myself a self-taught pioneer of wisdom, nor do I have any contempt for the human race. Heraclitus is placed on the philosophical side of the painting. This relates to me because I like to picture what cannot be seen in our day to day lives through my imagination. Heraclitus made significant contributions that affected the lives of many to this day, and I aspire to do the same in my career.

A Beacon of Light

Leonardo Da Vinci was by far one of the most revolutionary people of the Renaissance. He was not only a painter, but a scientist, architect, inventor, astronomer and probably much more that we are not aware of. His creative imagination and ingenuity acted as a beacon light, leading the people of Europe away from the middle ages and into the Renaissance. Da Vinci heightened the knowledge in every field of study he encountered. He inspired the way people painted with the Mona Lisa. He made life (and exploring it) easier with his multiple inventions. He opened new doors and revealed new insights in the field of science. He altered the way people would design buildings and contributed to the world of astronomy, all in about 60 years. One could say that Leonardo was the sun, in the solar system of the Renaissance. His life and achievements truly characterize him as a Renaissance man.

Impossible is Nothing

Mao's Last Dancer

In 1961, three years of Mao's Great Leap Forward--along with three years of poor harvests--had left rural China suffering terribly from disease and deprivation. Li Cunxin, his parents' sixth son, lived in a small house with twenty of his relatives and, along with the rest of his family, subsisted for years on the verge of starvation. But when he was eleven years old, Madame Mao decided to revive the Peking Dance Academy, and sent her men into the countryside searching for children to attend.

Chosen on the basis of his physique alone, Li Cunxin was taken from his family and sent to the city for rigorous training. What follows is the story of how a small, terrified, lonely boy became one of the greatest ballet dancers in the world. One part Falling Leaves, one part Billy Eliot, Mao's Last Danceris an unforgettable memoir of hope and courage.

The above was taken directly from:

http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=1388

Mao's Last Dancer is a luminous story of the persistence, courage and determination of a young boy. Cunxin, the protagonist, is the sixth child in a family of seven who live in one of the poorest provinces of China. His family had been reduced to eating dried yams which would get stuck in their throats when consumed. His mother and father would work over twelve hours a day to earn a mere 17 cents; a scarce amount to support a family of 9. Though they were poor, Cunxin’s parents always taught him to keep his dignity and pride. When Madame Mao sent her men to the countryside to find people for her academy, Cunxin proved his worth by withstanding the immensely difficult stretching the men made him do. He refused to scream out in pain, even when they tore his hamstrings. Cunxin is accepted into the academy in Beijing, and is overwhelmed by his first experience with city life. For the first few years he feels like a fish out of water, but eventually develops a passion for the art of ballet, and plunges into a frenzy of practicing over 5 times a day. His effort earns him a scholarship to the Houston Academy of Ballet, and Cunxin goes down in history as the first official exchange artist between China and America since 1949. After much political issues, Cunxin settles abroad and discovers the freedom he is offered there is far greater than that of a communist country. He goes on to become one of the most notable performers of ballet in the world. Cunxin’s story truly shows that nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it. His life is a tribute to the fact that you can be world famous even if you are born in the slums. He inspires all of us, through all ages and cultures, to pursue our dreams and shows us that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Cunxin's story will forever serve as an example to the saying, impossible is nothing

Paper Doors Lead to the Past

Adventure

Adventure hammers on your door,
Enveloped in a cloak of uncertainty,
Dragging you away to an alien land

In The Alchemist, adventure is an underlying theme that the author, Paulo Coelho has displayed throughout the book. Coelho shows that adventure is unexpected, and puts you in alien situations that are often difficult to overcome. However, in the end you will appreciate all the hardships you have experienced because they help you to grow and mature. He shows that what’s waiting at the end isn’t as relevant as the journey itself. This idea transcends throughout time and all cultures. All religions have legends of adventure which teach that effort and persistent are rewarded. There are also many real accounts of how adventure has been beneficial. These tales are evident, from centuries ago, to this day. In The Alchemist, the protagonist, Santiago, is traveling in pursuit of his destiny. Through the extent of his quest, he matures from an ignorant, carefree shepherd boy to a wise, determined alchemist who can serve as god’s vessel. Without the journey, Santiago would not have been able to transform into what he is today. Coelho has shown, as many have before him, that the adventure is more significant than what lies at the end. It’s not about what’s waiting on the other side… It’s the climb.

Destiny is the Deepest Desire

Reach for the Stars

“When I have truly been searching for my treasure every day has been luminous… I’ve discovered things along the way that I would have never have seen had I not the courage to try things that seemed impossible for a shepherd to achieve” (Coelho 125). In the novel, The Alchemist, a young Andalusian shepherd named Santiago dreamt of treasure buried miles away under the Great Pyramids of Egypt. He courageously departed the comfort of his life in Andalusia and ventured forth into Egypt in the pursuit of his destiny. Throughout his travels, Santiago encountered many influential characters that assisted him on his journey. In order for Santiago to achieve his destiny, he needed to draw upon his dedication, ability to self-reflect, and his courage.

Throughout his journey, Santiago’s dedication to his sheep, his work and Fatima, aided him greatly in fulfilling his personal legend. The first example of his dedication was the huge commitment he had to his sheep. “They are so used to me that they know my schedule,’ he muttered. Thinking about that for a moment, he realized that it could be the other way around: that it was he that had become accustomed to their schedule.” (Pg.4). Santiago had chosen to be a shepherd because he loved to travel, but his travels ended up being restricted because they revolved around providing food and water for his sheep. However, without his sheep he wouldn’t have had the money to travel, or meet Melchizedek, the man who guided him to the path of his destiny. Santiago’s commitment to his sheep facilitated his learning of the Language of the World. The second example is Santiago’s dedication to his work, especially in the crystal merchant’s shop. Santiago displayed his commitment by cleaning all the crystals and contributing ideas that would improve the shop, like putting up a glass display cabinet and serving tea in crystal cups. If Santiago had never worked in the shop, he may have never learned about Maktub (the Arabic word for “it is written”), and may have missed out on a lot of information about omens and the ‘Language of the World’. The final example is Santiago’s dedication to Fatimah. This came about when he looked into her eyes and felt the Soul of the World surge into him. Santiago’s dedication to Fatimah came from his love for her. His dedication gave him the strength to leave the oasis with the knowledge that Fatimah would await his return faithfully. Secure in this knowledge, he returned to her, even after discovering the treasure in Andalusia. If these soul mates had never met, Santiago may have never known about true love, and wouldn’t have been able to describe it to the wind, the sun or the desert. This would have prevented him from turning himself into the wind, and he would have been slain at the hands of the tribal camp leader. Santiago’s dedication, which was matched equally by his ability to self-reflect, helped him pave the path to achieving his destiny.

During his travels, Santiago continuously self-reflected in order to find the correct path to his destiny. An example of this is when he was about to give up his quest in the Tangier marketplace. At that point, Santiago felt as if the world had betrayed him, after a man who he thought to be trustworthy had robbed him of all his money. In that moment of despair he forced himself to think that this was the way God treated those who follow their dreams. Santiago then opened his pouch to see if he had any food to eat and noticed Urim and Thummim. This led him to self-reflect about the moment he had met Melchizedek, which in turn helped him to realize that this was just another step in the adventure, that he must take to fulfill his personal legend. Another example is when Santiago sits in deep thought at a bar after leaving the crystal merchant. He debated internally on whether he should return to Andalusia and become a shepherd or not. He realized that he can always go back and be a shepherd, but the opportunity to explore Egypt may never come again. If he hadn’t realized this and had gone home, he would have strayed away from the path of his destiny; and would have never found the treasure. A third example is when Santiago is self-reflecting in the desert before turning himself into the wind. “He spent the entire afternoon of the second day looking out over the desert, and listening to his heart. The boy knew the desert senses his fear. They both spoke the same language.” (Pg. 137) Santiago was frightened, and the desert could sense his fear because they both spoke the Language of the World. Santiago would not have been able to start speaking to the desert if he had not spent this time watching it and reflecting with his heart. If he had not been able to start speaking with the desert, he would have been slain by the camp leader. Santiago would have to search inside himself not only to find the answers during his self-reflections, but also to find the courage to overcome obstacles that lay in the path to his destiny.

On the quest to his destiny, Santiago demonstrated courage in many situations. The first situation was when the King of Salem urged Santiago to leave Andalusia and pursue his destiny. Santiago was content as a shepherd and at a very comfortable place in his life. He needed to have a lot of courage to abandon his sheep and his hopes of marrying the merchant’s daughter. If he had lacked the courage to leave, he would have never achieved his destiny and would have learned almost nothing about the Soul of the World or the Language of the World. Another significant situation was when Santiago presented himself to the tribal chieftains to inform them about an approaching war, which had been forecast by an omen. Santiago had needed courage to approach the chieftains and ignore the possibility that they might laugh at him, or get angry for wasting their time. He had needed to maintain that courage throughout their conversations, as the chieftains were giving him cold stares and questioning him vigorously. He had needed to have the courage to not hide in fear, and to believe that the omens he had read were telling the truth. If no one had attacked the Oasis then the arms would have been used on Santiago. If he had been too timid to approach the counselors, then the oasis would have been attacked and people that were significant to his destiny, like Fatimah and the Alchemist, may have been killed. The third example is when he had left Fatimah at the oasis. “I want to stay at the oasis,” the boy answered, “I’ve found Fatimah, and, as far as I’m concerned, she’s worth far more than any treasure.” (Pg. 113) Santiago had to muster the courage to leave his successful life in the desert oasis and continue the pursuit of his destiny. He had experienced true love for the first time with Fatimah, a woman of the desert, and had become rich as the counselor of the oasis. He demonstrated his courage by abandoning this life and risking all to follow his destiny.

After voyaging from the south of Spain, across northern Africa, Santiago realized that his treasure lay at the root of his journey. Throughout the extent of his quest, Santiago had conversed with kings, learned the art of Alchemy, experienced true love, turned himself into the wind, and reached into the Soul of the World. He had pushed the boundaries of what an ordinary shepherd boy is able to achieve through his dedication, self – reflection and his courage. He has evolved from a timid shepherd boy to confident and wise young man. Santiago’s days have been inspiring, and he demonstrates that if you reach for the stars, you can catch them.

You will walk farther if you move with a purpose in your step, beginning without one is setting yourself up for failure. A trait that I possess is that I am driven. My family has continuously told me that one should “work hard, and play hard.” This means that we should strive to do well not only academically, but in our recreational activities too. I take this saying to heart, and try to complete all that I do to my best ability. What drives me varies on the situation, and is not essentially one thing alone. For example, the drive behind this paragraph is to get a good grade and please my parents (hopefully my teacher too). Getting good grades may ultimately result in getting into a good college. Another example would be piranhas swimming. The things that drive me are keeping healthy, improving my endurance, keeping in practice so hopefully at one point I can get into varsity, and again pleasing my parents. At this early point in my life I have not fully matured, and do not know what my destiny is. But if there is a trait that will bring me closer to knowing what it is, and achieving it, it is likely to be my drive.