When I first came to NU last year, no one knew the feeling of alienation better than I did. I knew absolutely no one, and for the first few months of school, I was a wallflower. I kept quite, kept to myself, and kept out of the social scene. It took a few brave people to get me off of the wallpaper, and I am so happy they did. Now I'm happy with where I am, but I still remember where I came from and how I've gotten here.
I honestly think that being alienated last year has made a stronger person. Because I've lived, and obviously survived okay, through such a thing, I'm older and wiser and I have a life that I'm thankful for in return. Holden Caulfield is one of those people like I was once - he's a wallflower. He feels alienated, and in return, we feel sorry for him. But should we? I don't really know.
I honestly believe that everyone should feel alienated because it makes them stronger and smarter people. I wouldn't be who I am today without that feeling, and even though I hated it then, I'm glad it happened now. I guess what I'm trying to say is that maybe we should look on the bright side and find the perks of being alienated - that we should realize that it makes us stronger and teaches us a lot about society and even about ourselves. In fact, Holden Caulfield needs to look at these perks and understand why it's good for him to feel alone for now; why it's good to see the world differently; why it's good to be alienated. I swear that someday, he'll be grateful it happened...just like I am.
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I understand why you think being alienated for a time is a good thing, but it is never a good thing at the time. I just want to point out that not all alienation ends. For an example, do you think that anyone exiled from their society will ever look at that as a good thing? Well i supose they might if they goined a rivaling tribe and then killed all of their origional society in revenge. . but you get my point.
ReplyDeleteI'm certainly glad you took it like that! that being said...
ReplyDeleteGAHHH!! WE'RE ALL IDIOTS!!! I'M SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY!
This school...awful to come to new, I would never know, but I can imagine...Thankgoodness for your gosh darn awfully wonderful personality and mind to find the good in something like this!
wow i feel like a jack ass. . . I didn't even think to say i was sorry. . . if it's enough, i am sorry. .
ReplyDeleteI agree with the previous three, I'm sorry Jordan! Alienation isn't that great, and even though I've gone to PLS my whole life, I've experienced it too. For me, I just hit this weird strecth in my life and the reason I felt allienated was because I didn't make an effort to interact with others. That's the key to finding a niche at our school, interact with the people around, you but don't...be annoying (that was vague, but you know what I mean, right?). Not that you were, or are ever! But I what I think Holden's problem is, is that he won't reach out towards others, he's not making the effort (perhaps he feels he'll be phony). I know that he does seem to make an effort but if he really wanted a friend he'd try a lot harder. It's sort of his own fault; but that wasn't your case (we can be intimidating).
ReplyDeletei felt like this when i came here for the first time..... it is the whole reason i am always depressed and dark minded
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