" The Valley Of Amazement "

The writer Amy Tan presented a character in the extract of the novel The Valley of Amazement who, aged eight, was influenced to be true to her own. Lulu Minturn had been born in both of her hands with the additional finger. Typically, a child could experience the same in its circumstance because parents usually make sudden decisions about their children, which often children can only obey. The revelations of children have a permanent influence on our lives. The memories of children are so strong that they follow the individual as he gets older. I discovered how Asian and American cultures vary in terms of physical appearance after reading "The Valley of Amazement." In comparison to Americans, Asians are more insecure about their physical image. One other thing I got something from the novel was the definition of true beauty. Beauty is not determined by an each one's physical characteristics; rather, it is determined by how the beholder perceives his or her own beauty. As a result, we must learn to embrace our flaws and oddities as part of what makes us beautiful. To truly be truthful to us is to make personal choices about how you want to live. But being true to yourself doesn't really mean that you have to worry about pleasing others and living according to the rules or standards of anyone. What people are going to think about and look at you is unimportant. Because you are living without compromise as your natural self.

" Apo on the Wall "

Apo is a mirror and an eye opener on the wall. A historical relic and a wake-up call for today's youth. This poem was a vivid testimony to those Filipinos whom had come through that era, revealing the dark side about what actually happened during the Marcos dictatorship, and that until now it has had many secret untold statements with unheard voices of testimony. This poem is full of fear, sorrow and unheard-of weeping. The poem allows the reader to reflect on what happened in history, especially during the period of martial law. It also exposes the essence of the child's relationship with his father. A father is the family's leader, and a child's natural reaction is to fear him as a mark of respect. It also refers to the Filipinos who were terrified of Marcos' strength and authority. It's more about how dominance and public fear were prevalent at the time. Reading the poem gave me a peek into the past and what it was like under martial law. I couldn't figure out what it was trying to say. However, when I completely comprehended the content, I experienced conflicting emotions. I'm experiencing the author's feelings as I read the context repeatedly. 

 The poem was written to make us feel the same way he does about someone ruling over everyone with too much control and claiming us as his own. That was another aspect of the poem that I liked: it was influential, just like Apo or Ferdinand Marcos himself. It brought back memories of my father being a stern disciplinarian when I was younger. At home, I had to obey and comply with a lot of rules. The poem depicted the people's condition under martial law. Many lines in poem pointed to what was happening in the country, specifically the military's restrictions on the citizens. People must obey the rules whether they agree with them or not. According to my interpretation, the message is about increasing your knowledge of your environment and being alert as a free person. A child's hyper awareness is natural; he is naturally curious, and his senses are easily triggered. We must still respect historical events because they have an indirect impact on our lives today. Wrong doings can also serve as a guide to help us make better choices and avoid going down the wrong direction.

" Know your worth "

You are the artist of your life. Don’t give the paintbrush to anyone else.