Senior Quote by Jaiden

Senior Quote by Jaiden - November 2018 Scholarship Essay

I have thought long and hard about how to finish my senior year of high school with a few wise words. All seniors are expected to explain the changes they have experienced throughout high school's four years, mostly concentrated with the hormonal changes, in one final triumph. These quotes of wisdom each senior pick specifically because they are funny, represent the obstacles a person has overcome throughout their life, and provide encouragement for their future. My quote is, "But still, like dust, I rise."
This quote is from my favorite poem, "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou. I believe it is funny because the poem has a semi facetious tone, since the author chose a type of parallelism which made her sound sarcastic with an almost morbid sense of humor rooted from her pain and experiences. This type of humor is usually considered a coping mechanism or a way for people to understand and deal with their problems; however, I find those types of jokes are the most accurate strategy to find those who have overcome similar obstacles throughout their lives. Her terminology within the poem demonstrates her ability to rise above the negative perspectives and opinions of the people around her, so she could grow and express herself in a positive direction.
The quote, "but still, like dust, I rise," represents the obstacles I have overcome through my life because it explains the failure, resilience, and prevalence for the path to success. Failure is described with, "I rise" because unless you fall you cannot rise; therefore, the quote proves experience, effort, and strength of character. Resilience is shown with, "but still," emphasizing the reoccurring need to reattempt the previously failed task; furthermore, revealing the dedication, effervescence, and adaptability of personality. Prevalence for the path to success is indicated throughout the whole quote because it exhibits the rising success despite the downfall of failure; while focusing the simile on the perspective of those who discourage the triumph of the buoyant person.
This quote provides encouragement for the upcoming future because the simile, "like dust," explains the inability to repress the serene drive for survival. Dust is a constant because despite the efforts to expel it from our homes, it remains. Therefore, by comparing yourself to dust it provides logical reasoning, which explains the continuous stride toward success. I interpreted the simile as: dust is me, similar to an irritating weed a farmer, or those who dishearten my prosperity, works to rid himself of; however, the obnoxious weed continues to flourish, notwithstanding, the farmers efforts.
A senior quote is picked specifically because they are funny, represent the obstacles a person has overcome throughout their life, and provide encouragement for their future. My quote is, "But still, like dust, I rise" from the poem, "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou. This quote is funny because the poem has a hint of sarcasm within the tone because the author chose a style of writing which uses parallelism that made her resonate sarcastic terminology with a macabre sense of humor displaying her painful experiences. It represents the obstacles I have overcome through my life because it explains the failure, resilience, and prevalence of the path to success; while providing encouragement for the upcoming future because the simile, "like dust," explains the inability to repress serene drive for survival. Seniors are expected to explain the failures and successes they have experienced throughout these four years in one final victory lap of wisdom. I have thought long and hard about how to finish my senior year of high school, so I decided on the quote, "but still, like dust, I rise."