I was born an aquarius but ironically as a child I never knew how to swim. I enjoyed going to the pool and beach, while on vacation with my mom or dad, especially when I was in the water; yet I just couldn't swim. I would dog paddle around in shallow water while my cousins or friends would go off far away with an ability that I didn't have. My father told me that at one point or another in my life I would have to learn how to swim because it was a human skill for survival. I didn't care about that, I just wanted to go as far out as everyone else did.
I felt out of place in a place that I liked to be, the water. So one day my older cousins decided to pick me up and take me for a swim while I was visiting California. They had not seen me in a year so when I told them I still could not swim they made it their business to teach me. I could not do it, so in an instant where I was standing next to the deep end of the pool one of them pushed me in. I feel in all the way to the bottom, I remember saying to myself "you gotta get to the top." So I did by swimming up, once my head was above water I thought I must keep it above water so I treaded water and was able to float. From there I already knew conventional stroke and commensed with swimming. Looking back I realized that at that point I was enlightened, I was able to fully experience what I loved to do. I had learned a skill that eluded me for so long. In addition, I had done it on my own. Kant would have been very proud of me because I used my own understanding and had the courage to reach new abilities to save my own life.
My enlightenment went beyond the ability to swim. That event showed that it is never impossible to learn something new. As human beings we have the ability to learn new things. Moreover, no matter what manner we take we can gain a skill. All it takes is hardwork, dedication or just simply having the courage to dive in.

My Journey into Manhood.

The journey started a few months before high school ended back in the spring of 2004.  I was already legally a man at the age of eighteen while the mind had not caught up to the legality.  The journey started in a scary place filled with confusion, unpreparedness, and fear.  

a man legally, 

not ready for the challenge

was so ill prepared

Moving to California seemed a quick remedy for my stagnating maturity, hoping to learn the trade of life and grasp a better understanding from my father.  Learning the lesson of how to be a man from a man seemed indubitable.  The weather was beautiful, the interviews were rolling in, and my family was helping me.  I could almost grasp manhood in my hand, yet in this unfamiliar setting manhood seemed undesirable.  Missing the crowds, train sounds and bus stops, everything just a step away.  Family so close and so far, missing the concrete under my sole and the skyscraper filled streets manhood seemed inevitable but would come with a void. 

manhood will await

for a new journey is here

the void denies worth 

I came back to New York with a new vigor for the journey, more prepared than ever I yearned for independence and individuality.  I was in a place where I wanted to leave, I was still dependent with the same stagnation that was more apparent than ever.  My mother struck with cancer gave a motivation to take care of her, being a man was no longer my journey.  My reality was shifted, the weight of the world was on me and as if I had the strength, I had to pull my own weight.  

journey intervened

all seemed lost, though progress made

little did I know

Motivated by the will to support I lost my path.  My plans were lost and a new path was paved unknowingly.   As life went on responsibility came along with all attributes of manhood.  Unselfishness, realization of responsibility, and empathy were unconsciously becoming apart of me.  A new path was seen as I dove into institutions to better myself and the people around me in hopes of a better life.  Money was needed and sought but not important to me.  Material things were not needed to fulfill a good life.  Working hard and trying to make a good life was a good and fulfilling life to lead.  Intangible things like the happiness and wellness of others were my goal and before I knew it I was a responsible and respected man.

respect not searched for

manhood forgotten, who knew

life would itself - live  

Sympathizing for Prospero

The character who I most sympathize with is Prospero.  I identify with Prospero because I understand why he treated Ariel and Caliban with tyrannical force.  He possessed power, which was invested in his dukedom.  Then his power was stripped from him, not just by any man but his brother.   He experienced a tumultuous time that included so many hardships, which ultimately landed him on a deserted island in the middle of the sea.   This succession of events must have left him in the wrong state of mind.  He was left enraged and powerless with nothing but revenge on his mind.  Not even his daughter could bring enough joy to rid his mind of these feelings.  

The only remedy for this powerless enragement was his magic and his power over the other inhabitants of the island.  I am not saying that he is right for assuming control over the inhabitants, but I can understand why he acted as he did.  His magic gave him a feeling of empowerment, so for Prospero to crave empowerment after his nobility had been stripped from him is not farfetched.  Prospero went a little overboard in his treatment of Ariel and Caliban, yet, he was used to being a noble so the ruling aspect of his personality would only come natural.  Furthermore, since his title had been stripped do to his passive behavior as a Duke he wanted to make sure that never happened.  As a result, he wanted to change his passive ways and rule with an iron fist.  Prospero's character depicts hypocrisy in that he had his power taken from him, yet he felt it was okay to assume control over an island that was already inhabited by Caliban and his mother.

In the end, Prospero's true colors come through his rage and vengeful facade.  He is actually a forgiving person, and shows humanity as he does not take advantage of the fact that he could've easily killed Alonso and Antonio. 

All about me

Hi everybody my name is Karim Azizi and I was born and raised in the Lower East Side.  My mother is Puerto Rican and my father is from Afghanistan.  My mother speaks Spanish and my father speaks two different languages from Afghanistan.  Despite the fact that I am culturally diverse I only speak English fluently.  My parents felt that it would be of most importance for me to learn English as my first language.  Then I learned Spanish but my speaking skills declined dramatically as I  went through grade school.  The biggest problem for me growing up was deciding whether to be a Muslim or a Christian, being that I was torn between a Muslim father and a Christian mother.  My mother told me it was up to me and my father didn't even see it as an issue he just said I was a Muslim.  

As I grew through my teenage years into manhood I thought it was vital that I make definite decisions in my life dealing with life's important questions like the dilemma previously discussed.  So I made a lot of goals for myself one being that I go to BMCC and not only graduate but graduate with a GPA over 3.5.  I would need this GPA to guarantee that I have a selection of colleges to transfer to.  I hope to transfer to Baruch College for my Bachelor's  Degree in Business Administration.  After that life will decide how far my education will go.  For now in this horrible economy I have to make sure I have some financial security most importantly.  Luckily I work for a publicly funded private charter school that, unlike every other organization, is actually expanding so I aim to move up in this job as I get my education at least for now.  From here on I am going to just wing it and go with the flow of life and fight my way through any door I see open.  I am not a complete work-oholic, I enjoy playing basketball, playing my X-Box and enjoying the city life of New York with my friends and fiance.  

I took this class because I wanted to keep my reading and writing level up to par.  I have not taken an English class since the Spring '07.  In addition, I needed a few more elective credits so ENG 392 seemed the most interesting out of the selection that remained.  I do not read for leisure so I don't have a favorite author or genre.  I don't have a favorite book and books have not been influential to me.  Every book that i have read has been forced upon me by school so books have always felt unenjoyable.  Reading books makes me feel as if I am at a stand still in my life and life goes on once I am done reading.