Like Mother Like Daughter

"It's important to be honest and help other people as often as you can."

My mom grew up in a household very similar to mine. A happily married mom and dad and one younger sister were always there for guidance and support. My mom has told me she wants me to learn how to put others first and be an honest person. The above quote is something my mom says often. It’s important to be honest because if you aren’t, your lies will eventually catch up to you. The only thing that gains trust is honesty and following through on your promises. Therefore, honest people are much more trustworthy. Doing good things for other people is also an important quality that my mom has. I hope one day I will be as compassionate and generous as she is with everyone around her. It is wise to put others before yourself because it shows that you care and don’t only think about yourself. Generous people are usually highly respected. If you live your life only thinking about yourself, you will in turn cause other people not to think about you. I wouldn’t want to live that kind of life. If you simply live by this philosophy that my mom has lived by and raised me with, you will be a happier and more fulfilled person.  

A recent picture of my beautiful mom and me :)

Superhero

“Try to appreciate experiences more than material things.”

My dad has always been there for me. He’s been my hero, my friend, and my mentor for as long as I can remember. He has also taught me some things that I will never forget. Much of the wisdom my dad passes on to me is advice that his own mother gave to him. He grew up in a small town in Alabama and his mom was a big influence on how he is today. She taught him to be compassionate and to work hard. Most importantly, try to appreciate experiences more than material things. Those wise words have stuck with me and I try to live by them every day. I believe it is wise to appreciate experiences more than things because things won’t always be there, but memories will last forever. These days, people are becoming more and more dependent on the newest and the best technology and toys. Families talk less and spend more. It’s okay to buy new things every once in a while,of course, but sometimes it consumes people to the point of obsession. Life should be about trying new things and exploring the world around you.   

My dad and I enjoying a fun experience together!

Helen Keller

 "When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."

Helen Keller was born on June 21^st, 1880 in Tuscumbia,  Alabama. Tragedy struck when she was two years old and she became blind, deaf, and mute due to an illness. Helen didn’t let her disabilities define her. With the help of her parents and teachers, she learned to communicate. She went on to graduate college and later have a huge impact on the lives of people with disablilties. The wise quote above demonstrates that Helen Keller was a very postitive person despite everything that happened to her. She is saying that if we only focus on the bad things that have happened to us, we won’t be able to see the good things ahead. I persoanally know quite a few people that have this negative attitude towards life. It will get you nowhere. You only bring youself and the people around you down. There are so many opportunties in life that you can embrace and make the best of if you really try. If you focus on the door that has been opened for you rather than the closed door, you will be much happier in the long run. If not, you could possibly be missing out on the best opportunity of your life and never know it. 

Helen Keller

Sources:

"Helen Adams Keller." 2012. The Biography Channel website. Dec 09 2012, <http://www.biography.com/people/helen-keller-9361967>

"Helen Keller Quotes." n.d. Brainy Quote. 9 December 2012  <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/h/helen_keller.html>.

Ronald Reagan

"There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit."

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan, born on February 6th, 1911, was the 40th president of the United States. He was one of the most influential presidents in American history. He is responsible for the end of the cold war and was much respected as a person as well. These wise words from him really caught my attention. They mean that you can accomplish many things if you aren’t always worried about other people stealing your ideas. For example, if you find the cure for cancer, you would be saving hundreds of people’s lives. You shouldn’t care if someone else tries to take credit for it. The point is that you have done an amazing thing for a lot of people. In fact, if you’re really thinking about the big picture, you shouldn’t care if you get credited at all. If more people thought like this, our world would be a better place to live in. I’m sure that this philosophy on life was something that Ronald Reagan swore by. This made me respect him that much more. Hopefully more people will listen to his wise words and focus on the big picture instead of fame and money. This quote really is timeless.

Sources:

"Ronald Reagan." 2012. The Biography Channel website. Dec 09 2012, <http://www.biography.com/people/ronald-reagan-9453198>

"Ronald Reagan Quotes." n.d. Brainy Quote. 9 December 2012 <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/ronald_reagan.html>.

Martin Luther King Jr.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

 Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15th, 1929, in Atlanta Georgia. He was a well-known activist and prominent leader best known for his role in the African- American Civil Rights movement. He's also known for using nonviolent tactics. He overcame discrimination and should be an inspiration to all of us. The quote above is just one of his wise and powerful messages. I believe this is a wise quote because it says that a person’s character isn’t truly tested until a challenge arises. How he handles the challenge with either prove or disprove that he is a worthy man. After all, it’s easy to be a leader of a perfect society. Your strength and courage is never tested. I respect the fact that Martin Luther King Jr. lived by this quote instead of just saying it. He set out to do something many people before him were too scared to do, and he succeeded. He was challenged, ridiculed, beaten down, and doubted, but he rose above all of that. That is why this quote holds so much meaning and has been remembered for so long. It is as if Martin Luther King Jr. had summed up his whole life in a single sentence. We should all try to live our lives as he did and never forget how he changed our country forever.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sources:

"Martin Luther King Jr." 2012. The Biography Channel website. Dec 09 2012, <http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-king-jr-9365086>

 "Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes." n.d. Brainy Quote. 9 December 2012               <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html>.

Perspective---evitcepsreP

"Naw, Jem, I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks."-Scout

This is said by Scout to Jem when they were talking about the different kinds of people in Maycomb. Scout shows her innocence and acceptance of people when she says this. It also shows how growing up with Atticus has affected the way she views other people. She doesn’t see color, she sees people. I believe this is the wisest thing Scout says in the entire book. At this time in the book she is even wiser than Jem, who thinks there are four kinds of people in Maycomb. Although she is still learning a lot, Scout has an overall understanding of people that comes with her age and also her upbringing. For example, she rationalizes that her family is no better than the Cunninghams because Walter was as smart as he could be and there was nothing wrong with him. I think Scout knows that it’s important to treat others as equals and not to belittle someone because of where they came from or what they may look like on the outside. This quote is also wise because it shows that Scout is teaching Jem something, even though he is older. They can learn things from each other. Jem might not have realized it at the time, but Scout was absolutely right. 

Just like optical illusions, you can't
judge people based on how they
look. They aren't always what they
first appear to be.

Is it a vase or two faces?

Point of View

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around a little."-Atticus

This was said by Atticus to Scout after her first day of school. This is a lesson that Scout really takes to heart. Atticus means that you can’t judge someone until you look at things from their point of view. This was very wise, especially because of the time and place of the story. Most of Maycomb was racist and judged others based solely on skin color. This proves that Atticus is an exception and he wants his children to judge people on who they are not what they look like or what other people say about them. Scout tries her best to put herself in other people’s shoes as the book goes on. She practices with Jem when he snuck out to get his pants from the Radley house, and she tries again at Calpurnia’s church. It is not until the end of the book when she finally understands. As she stands on Boo Radley’s porch after escorting him home, she looks out over the neighborhood and imagined what everything would look like to Boo. Scout is mature beyond her years, and she proves this in that moment. It finally clicks in her head that people are usually more than they appear to be. This lesson comes full circle at the very end of the book when Scout tells Atticus that Boo was really nice. He tells her that most people were when you finally saw them.

This picture represents Scout trying to step into
other people's shoes.

Conflicted Conscience

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."-Atticus

This was said by Atticus to Scout after he told Jem that he had to go talk to Mrs. Dubose because he had destroyed her flowers. Atticus was explaining to Scout that she and Jem had to keep their heads, even when people talked bad about him. Even though so many people were saying he was wrong, he had to listen to his own conscience first. This is very wise of Atticus. Not many people can ignore cruel comments and focus on what they know is right. Atticus realizes that what he is doing is affecting Scout and Jem, but he knows it is the right thing to do.  When he says this quote, he is trying to teach Scout that you should listen to your conscience before you give in to what other people are telling you is right, even if you are by yourself. Peer pressure will probably always be an issue. It is something many people struggle with daily.  It’s hard not to give in to it, but you have to stand up for what you believe in. After all, you are not living to please other people. You have to be able to live with yourself first. 

The angel and devil on your shoulders representing
your conscience verses outside influences.

Scout and Atticus have a very close relationship.

Stay Humble.

"People in their right minds never take pride in their talents."-Miss Maudie

This was said by Miss Maudie to Scout. She was explaining why Atticus didn’t take advantage of his talent of shooting. I think this was an important lesson Scout needed to learn. The fact that you are good at something doesn't make it right to brag about it and show off all the time. It’s important to stay humble. Atticus has a sense of humanity that caused him to keep his talent hidden. Miss Maudie understands that this is a good quality for someone to possess and shares this knowledge with Scout and Jem. She wants them to realize that their father really is a great man. It made me respect Atticus even more when I read this quote. I personally will do my best to live by Atticus’s example in this aspect. Along with being wise, this quote was also powerful because it symbolized a change in the way the children, especially Jem, viewed their father. He’s starting to understand that there is more to him than meets the eye. At the beginning of the chapter, Scout explains how annoying it was for Jem and her that Atticus never did anything, but by the end of the chapter Jem changes. He says that he wouldn't care if Atticus didn't do anything at all because he was a gentleman.  

The amazing Atticus Finch shooting
     the rabid dog down the street

It's a Sin to Kill a Mocking Bird.

 "Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit em', but remember its' a sin to kill a mockingbird."

Mockingbird

  Boy about Jem's age with an air-rifle

This was said by Atticus Finch to Jem when he first got his air-rifle. It was the first time Scout had ever heard her father say something was a sin. Miss Maudie later explained to Scout that it was sinful because mockingbirds didn’t cause harm to anyone. They simply made beautiful music for us to enjoy. I believe this is a very wise quote because it can apply to many things in life. If someone or something is innocent and hasn’t done anything wrong, it would be cruel to do anything bad to them. There were multiple metaphorical “mockingbirds” in the book as well. Tom Robinson is an excellent example. Tom was never rude or outspoken to anyone. Most importantly, he never raped Mayella Ewell. When Mayella bluntly accused him of this in court, it was like she was shooting a mockingbird. At the end of the book, Scout finally understands this concept when Boo Radley saves her and Jem from Bob Ewell. If they exposed Boo to the public as a hero, his privacy would be invaded and his life would never be the same. In a way, it would be like saying they didn’t appreciate what he did. The whole idea of it being a sin to kill a mockingbird should be practiced by everyone. It’s bad enough when people are mean to each other, but it’s absolutely cruel to be mean to someone who has never done anything bad to you.

 

Introduction

        My name is Jamie Butler and I am a tenth grader at West Florida High school in Pensacola, Florida. I created this blog as a project for my English class at school. We have been reading and discussing "To Kill a Mockingbird" this quarter. The purpose of this blog is to share the many words of wisdom from "To Kill a Mockingbird" and from other influential people in America and my life personally. If I had to give one piece of advice on how to live your life, I would say to always stay positive. If you think negatively about everything all the time, you will never be happy. Your attitude on life can either make or break you.

A recent picture of me