on The short story “The Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu introduces the idea that when an individual prioritizes their loved one’s needs over their own, instead of resorting to comfort, they align their values in the face of adversity and develop emotional courage In the story, the complex relationship of a mother and a young… Continue Reading Folded Desires, Unfolded Courage: Embracing Emotional Resilience
on “Patron Saints of Nothing” by Randy Ribay is a compelling story regarding the navigation between two distinct cultures, the importance of understanding one’s roots, and the complexities surrounding the pursuit of truth and justice. The novel centres around Jay Reguro, a Filipino-American, and his trip back to the Philippines during his senior year of high… Continue Reading An obligation to you, to them—to learn
on “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community… Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.” – Cesar Chavez Ambition, a strong force driving individuals toward dreams and aspirations, often intertwines with unforeseen challenges, echoing… Continue Reading Navigating Ambition: Isabelle’s Journey
on In “The Paper Menagerie”, the author, Ken Liu explores the role of emotional courage when an individual experiences separation. The story is about Jack, a young boy whose Chinese mother makes origami animals which he believes come to life. The story follows Jack as he tries to fit into American society as a mixed kid.… Continue Reading Emotional Courage: A Cheat Code to Dealing with Life
on “The Paper Menagerie” is a short story written by Ken Liu about a boy of Chinese-American descent and his struggle to fit into American society while maintaining a relationship with his mom and Chinese heritage. Initially, Jack, the boy, had a close relationship with his mother, who would make him origami animals to play with.… Continue Reading When to Hold On and When to Let Go
on In the poem Wheels by Jim Daniels, he explores the idea of how no matter how far one goes in life, there will be some things that remain constant. These things help one to look back and realize the progress they have made. These things could also motivate us to keep moving forward. “My brother… Continue Reading The Crutch of Constants
on When you’re born in a burning house, you think the whole world is on fire. But it’s not. – Richard Kadrey, Aloha from Hell Recognizing and accepting the emotional complexities within one’s family can be the hardest thing an individual can do. Analyzing the environment, and the consequences, of one’s upbringing is challenging as it… Continue Reading Blackberries and Peaches
on The poem Lies I Tell by Sara Bojas tells the story of a young lady who crafted her life around a shield of half-truths and lies to hide and protect herself from reality. What’s so exceptional about this poem is that it tells a message about how half-truths and lies don’t benefit you and shows… Continue Reading Deception and family bonds
on When I had initially read the poem, “On the Train the Woman Standing” by Claudia Rankine, I had thought the story would be one addressing violence against women or how it can be unsafe to be alone in public as a woman. That’s my own expectations, shaped by fears that I share and recognize. So… Continue Reading Poetry, and its impact to a society and to you, a human
on Introduction: “The Paper Menagerie,” Ken Liu’s powerful short tale, discusses the dilemma between pursuing personal goals and conforming to cultural standards. The story follows Jack, the son of an American father and a Chinese mother, as he struggles with his cultural identity and the implications of his decisions. Liu explores themes of lineage, familial ties,… Continue Reading The Struggle for Identity: Pursuing Personal Desires vs. Conforming in Ken Liu’s “The Paper Menagerie”