Hi, I have pasted a practice essay on the context 'Identity and belonging' below. The set text is 'A Mind of a Thief'. Please give me some feedback:) The style of my essay is expository. All criticisms are welcome.
Thanks!
Prompt: Sometimes we need to accept change in order to grow. (700-1000 words)
Without accepting the fact that everything changes, we cannot find perfect composure. But unfortunately, although it is true, it is difficult for us to accept it. Because we cannot accept the truth of transience, we suffer. – Shunryu Suzuki
Change is a part of every single individual’s identity. Almost every person has to undergo change at least once in their entire lifetime, however long, or short it may be. In each individual’s process of growth, their identity would be continuously changing due to their environment and as they mature. Change is simply the way of life, and to not change, is to stay stagnant and remain rooted in outdated beliefs.
Change is inevitable in new environments. When people have a change of environment, such as emigrating to a new country or simply going on a holiday, they definitely have to be receptive towards the idea of change. For them, being in a foreign country might be daunting, but if they do not accept change, they will never be able to adapt and blend into a new society. A new country would also have different cultures, and they would have to be understanding and have to adopt different attitudes. For example, I have a friend who went to an Arab country, Saudi Arabia. When she visited Saudi Arabia, she had to be mindful of the customs of the Arabs and adopt changes to the way that she dressed in order not to offend anyone and be culturally polite. Many things have to be changed when a person moves to a new country or place. Languages are one of the most important changes people have to make when they move to a new country. If they are unable to speak the same language, communication would be tiresome and wrought with difficulties. In new environments, change would definitely occur.
As a person matures and grows up, their identity would undergo countless changes. In the memoir ‘A Mind of a Thief’, the author, Patti Miller recounts her childhood, adulthood, and her journey to search just exactly what her identity is. When Miller was a young adolescent, she left Wellington as soon as she became legal because she felt that Wellington was dull and unlively and ‘like a sleepy town’. As she grew up, she visited many different places such as Paris and Ireland. She loved living in Paris and liked the idea of belonging there. She eventually went back to Wellington to collect stories of the Aboriginals. When she found out that she had Aboriginal blood, she was stunned. As Miller was ‘red-haired and freckle-faced’, she thought that it seemed extremely unlikely that she could have Aboriginal blood in her veins. She accepted this change in her life and even welcomed it as she liked the idea of being related to a land that had a history that spanned thousands of years. By accepting change in her identity, she was able to grow as a person and have a greater insight into her identity.
Change is a necessity in order for people of different races to come together and unite. It is especially evident in the film ‘Invictus’. Nelson Mandela, one of the most famous presidents of South Africa was renowned for uniting the black and white South African people. He was really commendable for having such strength to not develop any hatred towards the white South Africans for enslaving and mistreating his fellow black ‘brothers and sisters’. He knew that only with change, would the black and white South Africans finally get along and be ‘one people’. He was a great man for being able to find it in himself to forgive those who imprisoned him 28 years ago. Mandela knew that change was necessary and someone had to stand up and set an example for the rest of the South African people. By setting an example, his great leadership led his black security personnel, Jason Tshabalala realise that they had to get along with the white security team. Mandela’s black and white security personnel were able to gradually learn to accept each other and realise that they were actually not all that different from each other.
In order to grow, change is necessary. In the memoir ‘A Mind of a Thief’, one of the characters, ‘Wayne Carr’, experiences a multitude of identity changes in his life. In his childhood, he was a studious kid who got scholarships for his excellent grades. However, when he became a youth and started drinking at the tender age of 16, he started to spiral out of control and became a troubled teen. Because he started drinking alcohol, he remembered his horrific childhood, being raped at the young age of seven or eight.
Thus, he was a ‘wild’ teenager and was ‘beltin’ people’ and ‘smashin’ people’. At 16, he also met his ‘missus’ and even had a baby daughter. Despite that, he did not come to his senses and be a better man for his family. Around the age of 36, he suddenly became mature and realised that he had to change. He started to look after his wife and daughter, and even became involved in the ‘Native Title fight’. Wayne felt that his identity as a Wiradjuri and his personal connection to the land, made him who he was. By changing his attitude on life, Wayne matured and changed his life around.
Change is a vital part and parcel of an individual’s life and identity. Change influences our identity in many different ways. During growth, change is definitely necessary. If we do not accept change, we would not be able to grow and mature. We would not get out of our comfort zones and improve ourselves to become better.
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