Who are you and what are you doing Here story

I recently heard a story that resonated with me. It was one of those moments when I heard exactly what I needed to hear, at precisely the right moment.

The story goes like this … thousands of years ago there was a man named Akiva. He was a master teacher, a scholar and the kind of person you would go to when you were struggling with the deep mysteries and challenges of life.

One day Akiva was walking to his home. While he was walking he was in deep thought, which you might expect from a master teacher. Since he was in deep thought he failed to take the exit off the path toward his village. Instead, he kept walking in the wrong direction. It wasn’t until he found himself at the gates of a Roman Military fortress that he realized what he had done. He then heard a soldier yelling at him from the top of the gates. The soldier asked, “Who are you? And, what are you doing here?” Akiva needed to buy himself some time so he replied, “what?” The soldier repeated himself asking, “Who are you? And, what are you doing here?”

Akiva replied by asking, “How much do they pay you?” The soldier replied, “Five drachmas a week.” At that point, Akiva said, “I will pay you double that to stand outside the door of my house and ask me those two questions every single day. ‘Who are you? And, what are you doing here?”

Mark Edmundson, published the essay “Who Are You and What Are You Doing Here” on August 22, 2011 in the Oxford American. Edmundson received his education at Yale University and is currently a professor of English at Virginia University. In the beginning of the essay, He describes the initial feelings of a new college student and explains what is expected throughout the process. He adamantly expresses the need to find oneself, which he feels is the true meaning behind achieving higher education. He describes sources of pressure students face when trying to get an education, which include expectations from society, family, and even the university the student is attending. The institutions are pressuring students to avoid making an impact on society and only getting a degree for the purpose getting a job. Edmundson at first, describes college as just go to class and you will be ready for life. But he then goes on to say that the education system is not about following in line. He continues on by saying, “To get an education, you’re probably going to have to fight against the institution that you find yourself in” (Edmundson 115). He often repeats himself by recommending students fight the education system. He points out higher education is often seen as a chance to study something …show more content…

He refers to other philosophers’ thoughts in order to demonstrate that family stereotypes do not have to decide who you will be and who you will become. Edmundson expresses that you might not be the person you were to raised to be. Edmundson than repeats his thoughts when he suggests “You may not be the person that your parents take you to be. […] you may not be the person that you take yourself to be, either” (Edmundson 121). He continues to express that even just the readings in college may even help you find

It was a true story. I can agree with almost everything that is written in this essay. I was sitting and thinking about myself wondering, was this something that I really want or is this someone else’s dream for me. I have really learned a lot about college so far and I know that I have a ways to go. I have met a lot of driven students and I have met some not so driven students, many that are here to party I just say hey and I keep going. I know what my goal is and what it is going to take to achieve it. I am going to strive to do my best because this is what I want for me and I don’t want to cheat myself out of what is best for me. I know that it won’t be all happy days but I know in the end it will be all worth it because it is something that I want to

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Instead, before you bring the bin out, take time to put heavy items on top. And don’t bring it out and leave it overnight, either, Certified Recycling advises. Try to take recycling out the morning of your pick-up so it’s not sitting out in the elements all night.

Place your bags and bins in a safe spot

AccuWeather also says you have to be choosier with where you set your bins in the winter. Snow removal areas are dangerous, of course, but even setting your bags or tied-up cardboard on icy spots is a bad idea, as they can actually become frozen in place.

Take care with holiday decor and waste

When you’re cleaning up after the holidays, don’t just stick your tree on the curb and drop your old lights in the bin. Check with your local waste department about their policies for discarding these items. Your local department may mulch trees and wreaths, for instance, and old lights can be recycled by scrap metal companies, so give them a call, too.

Finally, according to Earth Day 365, don’t try to recycle any kind of packing materials or wrapping paper: This means no stick-on bows, no styrofoam, and no bubblewrap. You can, of course, recycle cardboard boxes.