1. My Bench
I visited Gates Park, a park near my house, and walked around to find the perfect bench. I came across many that were just simply in a spot that did not really have an interesting surrounding. Some were by a tennis court, by a tree, or outside a forest. I then came across to what I like calling, “the perfect bench.” I chose this bench because it gave me a very warm and happy feeling, and it had a beautiful surrounding. It was lying on tiled ground, surrounded by big green bushes, and large trees with red and green leaves. It’s almost like it’s a “summer bench,” the best bench to sit on during the summer due to it providing a great shade and cedar-like scent. As soon as I saw it, I knew that this was my bench.
2. What I see, feel, think, and want
When I look at this bench, I see good, not bad, and light comes to my mind, not dark. I see the light from Heaven when I look at this bench, and the trees and bushes around it. I feel relief and at peace when I look at this bench, and I feel that it spreads nothing but love and happiness, there is no trace of anger or sadness on this bench. I also feel that this is the bench that defines the word, “Love,” and that it provides a spot where couples can come and express their love to each other. When I look at this bench, I think about good things that make me happy, and it feels like all the bad things in my mind disappear. My family, friends, and all of the other good things like the sun and even God, come to my mind and I think of them as I look at this bench. When my eyes are set on this bench, I want all the bad things to disappear forever, and I want the sun to shine brightly on this bench, for this, I feel, is the bench from heaven. It is like God’s throne, for he who sits on it will feel power.
3. If a bench were dedicated to me
If a bench was dedicated to me, I would like the bench to be in the park that is nearest to my house. I feel that people would think to themselves, “Gee, it was nice that they put the bench dedicated to Amit Dhuga in this park, because he lives just around the corner!” I would like the inscription plate to say, “Suffer and work hard, and in the end you’re suffering will turn to happiness,” and then I would like my name to be on the bottom of the inscription plate, “Amit Dhuga.” My family has always told me, ever since I started elementary school, to work hard so that I can be happy and make everybody who loves me proud.
4. If I dedicated a bench
If I dedicated a bench, I would dedicate the bench to seniors at the old folks’ home that is next to Lion’s Gate Hospital. I would like the bench to be right outside the home, in a garden perhaps. I would like the inscription to say, ‘Everybody Is special and Loved.” And then I would have, “Amit Dhuga” on the bottom of the plate. I want the inscription to say this so that any senior who is upset can look at this inscription and realize that they may be old and not feel special or loved anymore, but in fact they are still special and are loved, and they always will be special and loved.
5. My trip to the park
I walked to Gates Park from my house around noon, in search for the perfect bench that I could have much to write about. As I entered the park, I began to see benches to made me feel a little depressed. They were just simple benches placed in boring areas. I feel that benches have meanings, and to just stick a bench in front of tennis court is quite pathetic. What is the meaning of the bench if it is in front of a tennis court? I think that benches should not be used just to sit on and watch something, but in an area where it is quiet and the person focuses on many things, not just one thing. If a bench is in front of a tennis court, then the person sitting on that bench will only be able to focus on the tennis court, not really anything else. So I continued to walk through the park in search of a bench, until I came across a bench that was surrounded by a big green bush and large trees with pink and green leaves. This bench did not only have a very deep meaning, but it made me feel very peaceful and it gave a somewhat sparkling feeling to my eyes. I felt that this was the bench where couples come and express their love. It’s almost like that this bench is like a vault that holds all the love of couples, and as couples come by it, the vault gets more full. I stared at this bench for almost 5 minutes, because it made me think of all the good things in my life and cleared my mind of all the bad things. I felt that as soon as I looked at this bench, I jumped from the ground, out of reality, and entered through the gates of heaven. I knew that this bench was the one, because it made me feel the happiest, which is quite unexpected! I feel that the bench knows that happiness is the one feeling that is not felt every day, so it wants us to sit on it so it can show us it’s meaning from our own 2 eyes. The meaning of the bench is not a tennis court, but it is the trees, the grass, animals, other people happy, the sun, the sky, and much more. When we see all these things, we feel the thing that is also one of the most important meanings of the bench: Happiness. This all leads down to one thing, the meaning of the bench, is the meaning of life.
6. The poem that suits my bench
I chose the poem, “Happiness” by Raymond Carver, because the poem talks about how when something so beautiful is seen, death and love do not come in the picture, just happiness appears unexpectedly. Death and love happen everyday, but sometimes happiness does not happen every day. That is why I feel that just by looking at or resting on my bench, I can clear my mind and escape from all of the things that happen on a daily basis, and just focus on the one thing that does not always happen every day. It is quite unexpected how somebody can feel happiness just by looking at a bench. From what I’ve seen, people feel happiness when they see a bench because they need something to rest on because they feel very tired. But with me, it’s almost like when I sit on my bench, I escape from reality and a calming wave runs through my entire body, acting as a key to the gates of a new world where I see other people happy and the only feeling that exists there, is happiness.
Happiness by Raymond Carver
So early it's still almost dark out. I'm near the window with coffee, and the usual early morning stuff that passes for thought. When I see the boy and his friend walking up the road to deliver the newspaper. They wear caps and sweaters, and one boy has a bag over his shoulder. They are so happy they aren't saying anything, these boys. I think if they could, they would take each other's arm. It’s early in the morning, and they are doing this thing together. They come on, slowly. The sky is taking on light, though the moon still hangs pale over the water. Such beauty that for a minute death and ambition, even love, doesn’t enter into this. Happiness. It comes on unexpectedly. And goes beyond, really, any early morning talk about it.
7. How the poem connects to my philosophy of life
With life, I feel that anger and love are two feelings that are easy to feel, but with happiness, it’s not as easy to feel and it’s not a feeling that one has everyday. Happiness is like a match, when scraped, the fire will appear unexpectedly. Personally, I feel that happiness is not a feeling that somebody feels every day, but feels it when it is unexpected. Examples could include a surprise, good news, or a surprise kiss. I think that the only time somebody may wake up with the feeling of happiness is if it’s their favorite day of the week, favorite weather, or if they know that something fun and/or exciting is happening that day. In a manner of speaking, I feel that happiness is not the definition of life, but it is one of the key factors of life because we need it to make our life better. It is not always there, but it does appear in time unexpectedly. I feel that the poem connects to my philosophy of life because the speaker, too, is saying that happiness comes unexpectedly and when it does, no other feelings are felt. And also when somebody actually feels happiness, it has a lot more meaning than just simply talking about it.
8. My thoughts about parks
From what I have seen and experienced as a young child, a park is one of the most favorite places of children. They go there to have some fun and have a nice time, enjoy the weather, or even try new things (such as playing in a sandbox for the first time, or sliding down a slide for the first time). The purpose of a park is for not only children, but for adults to enjoy themselves too. Whether it’s a family picnic, a sports game, playing in a playground, or simply just taking a walk, a park is for people to just relax and take a break from any work, stress, or boredom. And an even more important purpose of a park is it makes people happy. Whether a person is alone or with others, the park provides enjoyment to anybody because anybody is free to do whatever they want at a park. My thoughts about parks is it is a good way to just let loose of any troubles. I feel that parks provide us with an escape from anything that makes us upset or angry. Unlike us, parks always feel happiness, and they want us to visit so that they could spread their happiness around us so we too, contain happiness. The park’s happiness is still there even when it is a rainy day. But it is the people who do not feel happiness at a park on a rainy day because majority of people prefer the park on a sunny day because it is the park on a sunny day that gives people happiness. However, just because the person does not feel happiness at a park, it does not mean that a park does not hold happiness. Another way of saying it is, just because a certain person does not feel happiness at a park, it does not mean that other people do not feel happiness at a park. To be honest, I think that children feel more happiness at a park than adults do. With adults, the park is a place where they can relax and have fun by playing games or spending time with family. But with children, parks are almost like a new world for them. Children get excited because they are in an area where there is way too much to do. One example could be that some children are not allowed to run around in the house, but when they are at a park, they can run around wherever they want and whenever they want. Every child enjoys playing with toys and do not get bored of it, but when they visit a park, it is a new experience for them to be climbing on monkey bars or swinging down a pole, rather than sit at home with toys. There is always something to do at a park for adults and children, but I feel it is a bigger and better experience for children because it gives them a chance to do things they’ve never done before, or even see things they’ve seen before. From what I have experienced, adults may not like some parks and only prefer certain parks, but children, however, seem to like all parks! I think that it is wrong for some adults to not take their children to a certain park just because the adult does not like that park. I personally feel that parks are more for children than for adults. From what I’ve seen, most parks may have a table or bench so adults can sit and watch their children or so that adults can have picnics. But the parks always have more than one playing area for children. Examples could be swing sets, slides, sprinkler systems, rocks, and tree houses. I think the reason that parks have multiple play areas is to let children try new things and for adults to let their children enjoy their new experiences. The adults have had their enjoyment as children already, so now they are giving this chance to their children. I also think that the park allows children to start to start taking different challenges while they are young. Because as they get older, they will face many challenges, so by trying new things at a park, they will realize that not everything is easy and that some things need a lot of practice in order to master. I have personally experienced and even continue to experience being happy when I have mastered something that was hard to me at first. And this all falls down to just one thing, a parent wants nothing more than for their son or daughter to be happy. Happiness is not a feeling that is felt or shown all the time, however, it is still within us and will always be within us.
9. My poem
I am going to write a Free Verse poem on my impending high school graduation.
Words cannot describe what it feels like to be graduating. I still remember my tour of Sutherland Secondary when I was a grade 7 student at Queensbury Elementary. I was very overwhelmed when I stepped foot in Sutherland because I knew that in the next school year, I will become a student at Sutherland Secondary. As soon as I knew it, it was my first day of grade 8. I was a little scared to be honest, because I was not used to a new surrounding, new people, new classes, and most of all, lockers. I even felt a little ‘weak’ because I was so used to being in the top grade at elementary school, but now I am in the bottom grade at high school. I was a mouse among many large bears. However, I began to feel more comfortable with the surroundings and classes when I started grade 9. Grade 9 was a different year for me because I felt better that I was not in the bottom grade anymore. Grade 10 was an even better year because I knew that I was already half way through my high school life, and it was the first year where I received an academic award: The Honorable Mention Certificate. Grade 11 was a great year because I began to make more friends, I was in the second highest grade at school, and I received the Honorable Mention Certificate once again. Now, to be in grade 12, it was a difficult time because it was filled with many responsibilities I had to complete in order to graduate. I had to peel off the slices to get to the middle of the onion. That being said, back when I was in grade 8, I pictured grade 12 to be a very difficult grade. Already I have almost completed my final year at Sutherland, so grade 12 was not as difficult at all, mostly due to me being a very hard worker and responsible person. Grade 12 was an amazing year, filled with great classes and events that I found to be quite enjoyable. But time has flown by way too fast, and graduation is right around the corner, literally. It is quite amazing how 5 years can just go by. As I walk across that stage at graduation, I will feel very proud of myself knowing that I have succeeded in my education. Then, as I walk out of Sutherland Secondary on the last day of school before Summer vacation, I will think about all the changes that will occur when I step foot out of the school, and I will reflect upon all the great people and memories of events and of my friends at Sutherland Secondary, for I will never forget any of them.
My Bench at Gates Park in Port Coquitlam
