Ingrid Illustrated

Perhaps the piece we read in first semester that had the greatest impact on me was The Stranger by Albert Camus. It delves into the philosophies of existentialism and the absurdity of life, topics I had never explored before. Through Meursault's journey as an emotionally detached protagonist, I was able to gain insight into the human condition and the meaning of existence. Reading The Stranger challenged my traditional beliefs and forced me to question my own values and perspectives. The book presents a worldview in which life is meaningless and humans are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. This perspective led me to gain a deeper appreciation for the present moment, as it highlights the importance of cherishing each day rather than constantly seeking some larger purpose. Now, I try to live in the moment at each and every point of my day.  I have also gained a deeper understanding of the true human condition. The novel highlights the struggles that individuals face in f...

As the daughter of immigrant parents, my own life reflects the complexities of the “American Dream”. A common dinner-table conversation theme of ours includes my brother and I’s futures. It’s clear that our view differs from our parents’, which leads to heated discussions and slammed doors. But still, my parents are relatively supportive of anything I want to do as long as I’m passionate about it.  The "American Dream" is a concept that has been central to the American identity for decades. It represents the idea that through hard work and determination, anyone can achieve success and prosperity. However, as society has evolved and diversified, the perception of the “American Dream” has also changed. Cultural and generational divides influence perception of the "American Dream", as contrasted in Death of a Salesman and The Joy Luck Club, and these differences put immense strains on familial relationships which can be compared in the two works.  On one hand, Death of...

In my opinion, although she comes from a higher class, Othello clearly has more power in his marriage to Desdemona. She aims to please him and even pleads to him her unconditional love on her deathbed. It is evident that Desdemona loves Othello, but does Othello genuinely reciprocate her feelings?  Othello loves Desdemona’s physical appearance. He loves her fair skin and innocence, they definitely have physical attraction and banter. He also loves how greatly she recognizes his story. She truly thinks of him as a hero, as someone who has conquered great faults and achieved considerable success. However, he could love his own honor even more. This is confirmed when he strangles her to protect his own image after hearing mere accusations of unloyalty. But does his love go beyond self-fulfillment? I would argue that Othello’s love does go deeper than the surface level. He loves her heart and mind. He loves and respects that Desdemona could have had so much more if she married in her o...

  A Day in the Life of an AP Student:  4:00 am: Rise and shine! As an Advanced Placement student, it is important that our bodies are as strong as our minds. We start the day with a few hundred pushups, a couple dozen sit ups, and a breezy 10 minute plank. After gulping down a homemade, organic green juice for breakfast, it is time to head to our favorite part of the day— school! 7:15 am: As an AP student, it is important that we always arrive at school on time— and by on time, that means at least 5 minutes early. This way, we have time to converse with teachers, get our supplies out, and look eager to absorb whatever knowledge our 6 AP classes of the day will contain.  2:10 pm: It is time for after school activities. Us AP students usually have 3-5 clubs a day like DECA, Model UN, HOSA, Project Lead, and many more. As board members of multiple clubs, it is crucial that we come to meetings with 40-slide-long presentations to bore our fellow AP peers! 5:00 pm: Arriving at ...

We have all thought about running away (at least I have). Fight or flight is human nature. When we perceive a threat, our bodies naturally trigger a stress response. And often, flight is the more painless option. Although it is not always the best solution, find out more about why we psychologically feel the need to bolt from our problems here: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-to-do-when-you-feel-like-running-away-5207364 . But who is actually brave enough, or cowardly enough to do it? Is running away an act of courage or a sign of weakness? Or is it both? And which way are we running: away from a starting point or towards an end goal? Or, again, both?  In The Vanishing Half , Desiree and Stella both decide to flee Mallard, their oppressive, colorist hometown, in search of new opportunities. For Desiree, her journey begins with an objective rather than a catalyst. She imagines a bigger, more fulfilling life for herself, one she knows she cannot achieve by staying put. But her jour...

Desiree and Sam had a pretty complex relationship in The Vanishing Half . On one hand, he was this charismatic man who made her feel beautiful and was a great father to their daughter. On the other, he beat her until she had to cover up the bruises and even threatened her with a gun. Although she does eventually cut ties with her abusive husband, it takes her almost 14 years to finally leave him. She realizes that she cannot endure this any longer for the safety of her child and herself when he suggests having another child together. Now, there are many things that made Desiree stay. She wanted Jude to have a harmonious family with both parents, for one, but perhaps another reason could have been that the abuse she was experiencing was better than the shame of returning to Mallard empty handed. In other instances, many victims don’t have these kinds of ties to their abusers. So how do abusers manipulate their partners from leaving? What makes it so hard to leave?  I think one of th...

I do not believe in fate (and not just because I’m arguing against it in the debate). In fact, I hate it when people say “everything happens for a reason” because it simply does not. Well, obviously it does happen for a reason, that reason being that we made it happen. Every single thing that happens in our lives, from the people we meet to the accidents we may or may not avoid, comes from the choices we make.  One thing many people who believe in fate often talk about are “soulmates”. But what does this even mean? Happening to fall into the arms of a stranger on the bus and spending the rest of your life with them? If this were to happen, it would only be a result of our own actions. The first choice we would have to make would be taking the bus. We would have to make a decision to take the bus as a form of transportation rather than a car or a bike. No spirit draws us to make certain decisions. We make them because of our own judgment, because we believe they are the most advanta...