As I read the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that says:”We acquire the strength we have overcome” it makes me think. What does this mean? The more I think about it the more clear it becomes to me. As we go through challenges in our life and overcome them we find a new greater strength among ourselves. Though times may be difficult they are well worth the reward.

In the comic book Persepolis we read about this girl that is growing up during a war. A war between her government, the people and another government. Though I don’t know from personal experience what it is like to live during a war that effects your everyday life I have found that through this womans words that I would definitely not like to have to go through those kind of difficulties. Though I would not want to live in such harsh situations they can prove to be good in a weird sense. When people face difficult moments in their life something inside them changes. People will go from average everyday people to heroes. So many people in this world that you would have never thought would do anything great have risen up to become great heroes. In the book 1984 an average unimportant citizen does great things. The main character Winston does the same thing everyday and doesn’t act against his communist government that he hates. Then a girl comes along and changes everything for him. She gives him the nudge he needed to start rebelling against the utopian government he lives under. After many struggles he helps start the beginning of a revolution.

We watched a movie that was previously unknown to me in English called Hotel Rowonda. The main character Paul was a manager at a very nice hotel. Had a family and an average life. Then war broke out and he being a father and husband did what any human being would do, he protected his family as well as he could. He was doing what he could to make sure his family was safe but was put as the leader of the hotel and felt a strong urge to protect not only his family but to keep safe and sheltered the war refugees. In the midst of blood and hatred this normal person rose up to think of some cleaver ways to trick the enemy and get the people at his hotel to safety. He protected over a thousand people in the end including his family. This proves that normal people can do anything if they just have the urge to. If the can dig deep and find the power to do amazing things it is completely possible.

When I think of Emerson’s quote I think of everyday people doing great things in their time of need. People can overcome any adversity and any challenge.

Alex