Megan Fitzpatrick HL English 2 Casady May 18, 2019 Integrity Essay “Weeping Willow” In this essay I will be using the analogy of the tree called the Weeping Willow for building integrity into my future. Structure: Much like the willow’s trunk, I wish to always stand strong in my morales and not be swayed easily. I wish to be strong in my opinions and not break or bend because another person is forcing theirs upon me. College and the rest of my life, I will have to face the world directly, and even though I have my close friends and family around me to support me, I want to become more independent and find myself. The tree’s trunk may have scars upon it, and indents into the wood, but it does not fall without great effort. I wish to encapsulate that strength into myself, and define myself despite the wounds that I may suffer from the world. Style: My own style, is pretty common I would say, however I quite enjoy it. Much like the willow’s easily recognizable leaves, I have an easily recognizable goals. I wish to travel, and get married, climb the ladder in my career, get a PHD degree; many things that others may also want, very average goals. Yet, like the leaves that are always different in the intricacies, my goals are not just as simple as that. I wish to move to England, study abroad in Edinburgh and study the history that lays there, I want a home by the coast away from people and surrounded by tall grass, I want to marry a gentleman who listens to my rants about history, I want to run a museum from behind the scenes; not things anyone wants, or really sees the joy in. I chose a school with a great foreign exchange program, so that I can explore the corners of the world and the ruins that time has left behind, so that I can find my niche in this grande world. Cohesion: The branches of the tree, what hold the outstretched leaves to the sturdy trunk. For me, the branches of my life, is history. Every aspiration I have, is in some way connected back to my love of history. For example, the man I want to marry, I just want someone who will love and listen to me when I go on useless tangents, for I tend to do that often, and just be there to listen and pay attention; but I do not want just a listener, I also want him to be able to tell me whatever he has learned, history or not. It’s not exactly uncommon of a trait, but many people will tell someone to be quiet when being told of history, for they claim that it does not matter any more, but that’s their loss. Another example, is my future house, and although most parts are imagined to fulfill a certain aesthetic, I want a place, safe and quiet, so that I can read my history books in peace; thinking and imagining of times and what it must have been like. All my goals are centered on this subject, and although there is more that just one reason, my love of history tends to be apart of it in some way, shape, or form. Strength: The outer layer, the toughest layer, or the bark. The bark that protects the weaker inside. Much like myself, hard on the outside and softer on the inside, I tend to come off as harsh. Many people who are strangers to me may think that I am cold and judgmental, and I can be. But many of those close to me will tell you that I am sensitive and weak to any criticism really. The only reason, at least to my knowledge, that I come off as cold is my face and mainly my eyes. I have known for some time that my resting face appears quite angry, or at least annoyed. And my eyes, I was raised to always maintain eye contact and that it would make the person more inclined to talk; however, both of these put together makes me appear like I dislike a person, which sometimes I do but most times I am undecided. And although this tends to make people distant from me, those who are close to me are close to me because they wanted to get to know me. For example, one of my closest friends, I meet in freshman year, and although we only really got closer during sophomore year, she spoke to me once and looked past my outside and liked the inside; we are still best friends since. My outer layer will tend to scare off those who may try to take advantage of my kindness, although I do believe this will get put to the test more accurately in college. Durability: The roots, what holds the tree down and keeps it steady; also giving it the nutrients the tree needs to survive. The part of my life that can be likened to the roots would have to be my search for peace. I want to find the place in the world where, for at least eighty percent of the time, I am calm and happy; not broken by my anxieties and nerves. I will build this place up from nothing if I have too, but I know that it may seem idiotic or a foolish dream. To have a good job means that I will have a good deal of stress, and to have successful relationships with those around me will result in me going through some stress for them or due to them. However, I just want to find myself in a house, or place, and be able to look around and say, “I’ve done it, I am actually at peace right now.” Which may be childish or unrealistic, but what’s wrong with that. Maybe by the time I reach this, I will have taken paths that I didn’t expect to, but I do know what it takes for me to be at peace now and I am willing to find it. Direction: The river by the willow, what allows it to be what it is and be as beautiful as it is. For me, the river in my life is my cats. Which sounds ridiculous but I can explain. I have had these two cats for at least the past five years of my life, one for six years. And neither of them has changed their love for me, maybe even come to love me even more, despite how much I have changed as a person. They have always been there for me by my side when I needed them most, willing to let me pet them even though they weren’t happy about it. I truly appreciate that they were there for me, and that they love me despite my changes in majors and goals. I just find myself at peace right when I wake up and they are both on my bed either sleeping still or waiting for me to open my eyes; although the later is typically for food, she is always happy to receive some petting. The reason this propels me forward, is that they don’t always seem comfortable, especially since my family got two puppies a couple months back, and I want to have them be confident enough in their home that they can walk anywhere and everywhere. I also have my family and friends, they are there for the verbal support and willing to help me out when I am weak; but there is just something about my cats, that when I look in their eyes I can feel myself being more willing to do something and get it done correctly.