Read chapters 5-9, then choose one of these questions to answer:
Either respond to this one:
p. 74: “I could laugh off Anne’s rumor, say she was as insane as her boyfriend, somehow get back into Emily’s good graces. Yet, how happy had I truly been pretending to be someone I wasn’t?” Explain this passage and how it applies to you personally. Can someone ever be truly happy if he or she isn’t being true to himself or herself? Is it ok to pretend and settle for temporary happiness?
Or respond to this one, also from Chapter 9:
p. 83: “Don’t go, Cameron, please. Grandma’s voice whispered through my mind. It was the first time she’d asked me for anything and for a moment I paused, her plea stinging.” Cameron is hesitating, deciding between staying with her grandma and going with Lewis. Describe a connection to this moment in the book from your own life, from another text, or from a world experience. Be very clear about how your choice relates to this pivotal moment in the book.
Hunter Drost
ReplyDeleteIf you are living a lie there is no true happiness. If we think about our fondest memories they are all genuine times we laughed or enjoyed ourselves. This passage applies to me personally because at one point or another we all get caught up in superficial happiness not true joy. Whether this is a lie or a front we put up everyday to avoid attention or pretending that everything is ok when it really is not. We have all done this some more that others. Sometimes it is ok to settle for temporary happiness because we can't be genuinely happy all the time. This however is only ok for short periods of time because everyone needs real happiness sometimes.
Kailee Youles
ReplyDeleteI think that the passage found on page 74 is the easiest for me to relate to. Personally I believe that in some way we can all relate when Cameron says "Yet, how happy had I truly been pretending to be someone I wasn't?". A lot of the time I tend to keep to myself and I don't really speak up or voice my thoughts. I tend to agree or disagree with the people around me, I rarely ever hold a proper conversation. In a way I can see that this can be taken as "pretending to be someone I wasn't". I close up because I feel that little burst of anxiety we all get when thinking about how others might view us. However I never stay this way for too long because as soon as I get more comfortable with the people I'm around I usually forget about the 'standards' set by society and just go for it. In a way I feel as in Cameron was having that moral debate of prolonging her appearance of happiness for some genuine happiness. The same debate I've had with myself a few times.
Fearghus Keitz
DeleteThis is no insult, of course, but I only once (my mother reminded me of it) felt anxiety about how others think of me. The comment you made is making me think, and for that, I compliment you. As a second note, I am quite dence on social meaning so can you clarify what you mean when you say "I tend to agree or disagree with the people around me, I rarely ever hold a proper conversation." as I don't see how they're mutually exclusive.
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DeleteBecca McKnight
ReplyDeleteI can relate the most to the passage on page 74. Cameron has a great point when she says "Yet, how happy had I truly been pretending to be someone I wasn't?". How can anyone be content and full of joy while trying so hard to be someone they aren't? Happiness comes with doing what you love and being with the people who truly love you. If someone doesn't know the real you they can't truly love you. They may love the person you are pretending to be, however, no one wants to pretend for the rest of their life. In my opinion, in one way or another we all somewhat relate to this passage. For example, struggling with peer pressure. I have personally been through this and know how tough it is to against the crowd. People may be telling you what's cool or what and what not to do. If we imitate what is "cool" just because other people tell us it is will not lead us to true happiness. In reality, as long as you are content and happy with who you are and who want to become, others views of you shouldn't matter. I have learned this from personal experience, just as Cameron is discovering.
Fearghus Keitz:
ReplyDeleteCameron was thinking about how her life had been as a lie, she hated it. This passage was supposed to make the reader think about how living a lie would work in actuality, and to bring up the philosophical idea that one cannot be truly happy if they are not true to themselves.
I have never been in that situation because I have always been true to myself. However, I am quite sure that it would be more difficult, if possible, to be truly happy as someone you’re not. There is probably no reason to even try being truly happy as someone you’re not. If they put their true self aside to “fit in” or for any other reason, they really aren’t going to be happy unless that's the kind of person they are, because they are not making themselves happy, they’re trading the things and actions you like or love for others. That person also shouldn’t be happy doing that if they have a conscience or any free will, since you should notice that you’re faking something. A conscience gives you guilt if you do so, and free will gives you the ability to understand that you aren’t right for what you’re trying to be/do. However, it is “ok” to pretend, as this is one of the few times where the stupidity of one doesn’t hurt others.
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ReplyDeleteAllie Marrujo
ReplyDeleteThe passage on page 74 is one that I can relate to the most. The quote "Yet, how happy had I truly been pretending to be someone I wasn't?" Cameron makes a great point. When you pretend to be someone you're not, you are focusing on creating a fake person. One will spend more time pretending to be fake for a stupid friend then to actually be themselves to have long lasting happiness. I believe at times we settle for temporary happiness because with life's curve balls we just want a breather from all the freaking drama that occurs in our daily life. In my personal experience if you are true to yourself and just accept who you are, that is when you will be truly happy. There is a lot of pressure from everyone to be someone you're not, when taking this road/path you will be happy in the moment, but time will pass and that happiness will fade away and you will be searching for something else that makes you happy. Just like Cameron, I have tried to find my happiness in multiple things like people or items. The happiness eventually goes away and I am in the search. To be completely honest, I only have 3 best friends that I trust with my life and want to be around all the time. This is because I can be myself wholeheartedly. When I am hanging out with them, I am truly happy because I don't have to live up to any ones expectations. I have learned that if you are not true to yourself, the happiness is temporary. Just like Cameron is finding out, you are only truly happy if you stick to being who YOU are and ignoring when someone is trying to form you and manipulate you to being who they want you to be. Staying true to yourself is one of the only ways to lasting happiness.
Garrett McKnight p.73
ReplyDeleteIn this passage, Cameron is try not to lose both of her friends. She is decided if she betrays one of her friends if she can stay in the good grace of another friend. To do this she must become someone she is not. I have had case where I could not be my true self do to how other people think of me. When someone is around someone they like, then they hid their feelings and aren't themselves fully. Many people can find happiness when they are not themselves. It may only be temporary but it is still happiness. I don't think it is right to settle for temporary happiness when you could be yourself and try to find longer lasting happiness.
Supathcha Moolrangsi
ReplyDeleteIf I were Cameron, I would choose to stay with grandmother. Sure she thinks her grandmother keep all the secrets from her, but the reason why she did that is because she wants to protect Cameron, she wants to keep her safe. I choose to stay with grandmother because in my experience, I have left my grandmother once. I used to live with my grandma in Thailand since I was a baby, My father and my mother are separated, and my mom came to work in the U.S. When I was thirteen, my dad pass away, and my mom decided to pick me up from Thailand, so I have to leave my grandma. At that time, I was so happy and excited to get to come to the U.S., and also sad that I have to leave my grandma, she was like my second mom, but all I think about was my future, so I left. Three years went by, my grandma had pass away. I was planning to go visit her in person this summer, but it was too late. I felt horrible that I couldn't be with her, I couldn't take care of her. Life is short as we all know. I just wanted to say or suggest you to taking care of your love ones as much as possible, and also tell them you love them, before it's too late.
Brad Davis
ReplyDeleteOn page 74 where it says "Yet, how happy had I truly been pretending to be someone I wasn’t?" It is not being true to yourself and have constant guild for not being yourself and being a fake person. Try your best to be happy with your regular life it lifts so much pressure because you know who you and and not worry about who you are not. It is a horrible life trying or being someone you are not even when you get close to someone it gets even harder until you hit a breaking point and you just start to hate yourself and blame yourself for everything and start making your life a huge mess. Always be true who you are no matter what, it make life so much easier then you think.
Brad Davis
ReplyDeleteOn page 74 where it says "Yet, how happy had I truly been pretending to be someone I wasn’t?" It is not being true to yourself and have constant guild for not being yourself and being a fake person. Try your best to be happy with your regular life it lifts so much pressure because you know who you and and not worry about who you are not. It is a horrible life trying or being someone you are not even when you get close to someone it gets even harder until you hit a breaking point and you just start to hate yourself and blame yourself for everything and start making your life a huge mess. Always be true who you are no matter what, it make life so much easier then you think.
Orin Sommer
ReplyDeleteI can relate to the passage from page 74, for some reasons. To start, pretending to be something is not actually being it. So if I apply this to happiness or personality, such as in Cameron's situation, I can see that she cannot have permanent happiness. However, in some situations that Cameron has been in, she can be temporarily happy because of her grade, social, and friendship status. This can apply to me, because sometimes I try to fit in the world by acting unlike myself. This can get me less attention, which I like, but it sometimes doesn't feel right. I can achieve real happiness by being myself and receiving comfort in that fact.
I can sympathize with Cameron, but I do think that you should be yourself. I can understand why Cameron would want to pretend to keep her status. I have noticed that I can put on a facade without even thinking so that people like me. On the other hand I am a ton happier when I am myself. I think one factor that can play into this is who you are hanging out with. If you are with people who expect something specific such as liking sports, it's really easy to try to say what they want to hear instead of what you really would. If you are with people who respect and like you for who you are, then it is a lot easier to be yourself. Ultimately, I think that putting on a mask for others can gain you momentary status and brief happiness, but being yourself gives you lasting and satisfying happiness.
ReplyDeleteEllie Gehman
ReplyDeleteThe one that I relate to the most is page 74 talking about true happiness. I do not believe you can ever be truly happy when your not yourself. How can you be happy when you are so focused on being someone your not. I think most of us have questioned the real us and have wanted to be someone different. Some prettier, smarter, nicer just different. You may think being someone your not will make someone like you then think again. You should never lower your standards or settle for something less then what you want. You have to be strong and confident in what you want and I believe long term happiness is better then short term.
Jefrey Horne
ReplyDeleteIn the passage on page 74, Cameron is debating whether or not to stay and act like she doesn't have the ability she possesses, or leave to a place where there are people like her who understand her and she can be herself. Sometimes in different groups of friends I feel like I can't fully be myself and I question if I am actually enjoying their company. Nobody can truly be happy when not being themselves. When a person is being true to their personality, that is when they can have real happiness, for they are being their own person where they can relax and feel the real joy. Though there are times when temporary happiness is necessary to have, it should never take the place of true happiness. True happiness is the important lasting joy. True happiness should dominate our lives, while the temporary happiness fills in the cracks.
Parash Bhakta pg. 74
ReplyDeleteIt is better to be yourself. I can understand why Cameron would not be herself, so she fits in to keep her status. There are many factors that imply into this, one of them being friends. For example it's more easier to be yourself when you are hanging out with people who like you for who you are and respect you. I am a lot more happier when I am myself. You can say what people want to hear and make them happy while you are only temporally happy. Overall, being yourself is easier and will make you more happier than being someone you are not.
Katalina Martinez
ReplyDeleteI can relate most to page 74 as it talks about genuine happiness. I don't really think you can be genuinely happy pretending to be someone you aren't. If you are pretending to be someone you aren't it means you don't like something about yourself. That there is something you want to change, so you act differently than what would come natural to you. I can see where temporary happiness would come in here, but honestly if you have to try that hard all the time it's not worth it. Temporary happiness can be great at times when you just need a break, but why settle for the small stuff? Go big or go home and strive for long term happiness. In the end you'll be much happier.
Josh Mikulak Responding to Question on Page 74
ReplyDeleteThis passage is revealing Cameron's true feelings of not being happy pretending to be Emily's friend and what that means. In this case, being Emily's friend meant not being true to self. This passage applies to myself as a reminder to be true to self and to not try to please people all the time and for the wrong reasons. No, someone can never be truly happy if he or she isn't being true to himself or herself. Like I've stated before: there's a time and a place for everything. In some situations, such as when your dear old grandmother gives you a crummy Christmas gift, it is fine to pretend and settle for temporary happiness for the sake of not hurting her innocent feelings. However, when someone is wrongly trying to get you to be someone you aren't, you shouldn't pretend or settle.
Blaise Morton
ReplyDeleteI can relate easily to page 74 as it is talking about being truly happy. You can not be truly happy when you are pretending to be someone you're not, because being someone your not makes you depressed. When you are trying to make everyone around you happy then you are rarely happy. If Cameron kept pretending to be Emily's friend it would make her depressed as she was realizing up to this point. You can only truly be happy when you are being you and not being someone else.