LETTER: Choice to Rise Above
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Dear Editor,
I recently read Escape from Slavery, the autobiography of a young Sudanese boy named Francis Bok that deeply impressed me. Stolen and kidnapped into a life of slavery in 1986 and separated from his family, he lost control over almost every area of his life. Yet in the midst of his suffering, he held onto hope and strove for something greater than his circumstance- his dream of freedom.
We, like Francis, have limited control over our circumstances and the trials we face. How do we endure extreme hardship and maintain hope? We must choose, as Francis did, to rise above the storms that assail us.
Many only wish for their desires be fulfilled, but Francis chose to make freedom his purpose. This purpose enabled him to press through the bondage and suffering to reach his goal of freedom in the United States.
Francis Bok had every right to give up and every reason to lose hope, but he did not. He saw hardship as an opportunity for growth. He chose not to allow his circumstance to rob him of his joy.
We lead privileged lives here in America. For many of us, the most extreme trials we will face are trivial compared to the slavery and oppression Francis Bok experienced. If a seven-year-old can endure such hardship, can we not bear our trials? If a slave can discover a dream in the midst of suffering, can we who are free not choose to rise above our storms and reach for something higher?
Jenna Weimer and her sophomore English Honors class read Escape from Slavery in February.
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Posted by "Joshua Thao" on February 29, 2012 at 1:02 a.m.
Great job, Jenna! I found your article to be very interesting. I agree that we should strive for something higher when in our difficulties.
Posted by "Tyler Laird" on February 29, 2012 at 1:02 a.m.
Great work on this article! You managed to cover all the main points of Escape from Slavery in a compact form. The points in the article were quite thought provoking, and I appreciate the wake-up call at the end. Thank you for the reminder that I have no excuse to be apathetic.
Posted by "Suzy Carroll" on February 29, 2012 at 1:02 a.m.
Good job on the article, Jenna! I agree that Francis Bok's story was very inspiring. I found it amazing how he was able to overcome in life. I completely recommend this book.
Posted by "Jason Kim" on February 28, 2012 at 1:02 a.m.
Francis Bok is a great author and a freedom fighter. I love his attitudes towards everything. Whatever strikes him, he overcomes with hope and faith. I feel ashamed sometimes for complaining about homework, projects and problems in my life. Compared to Francis Bok's child hood, my childhood is good.
Posted by "Jon Agao" on March 1, 2012 at 1:02 a.m.
It is very sad how we often complain about the tiniest things such as a broken pencil or a large homework load. Francis Bok is a perfect example of how we should be humble. I hope Francis continues to openly address the problem of slavery at hand.