Through my life journey, I have discovered that the natural environment brings me joy and I want to pursue a career in fighting climate change. I want to make an impact in the world and to eventually fix one of its problems just like Vicente wanted to amend his mistake. I feel that I am lucky to be alive and live in a world full of opportunities. Similarly to Vicente, I don’t feel content without a sense of purpose. He discovered that he loved the sea and his newfound passion for snorkeling allowed him to feel fulfilled. He pursued this search for years and in doing so found much joy during his journey. He did not know how to swim, however, his newfound purpose of replacing the broken amphora drove him to teach himself. Vicente had no home or even regular meals, yet he felt okay since he had a purpose in life. After he dropped the traveler’s amphora, he sold the few possessions he owned in order to purchase a snorkel and flippers so he could search the sea for another amphora.

In the story, I learned that Vicente spent the first sixty years of his life caught up in the busyness of life, trying to be successful by getting a job and making money. I believe that I hold a similar emotional drive with him. You may be wondering why I feel as though I can relate to a “.cadaverous, bent juniper of a man…” Lis Wurio 157. I found that I could relate to the story through the character Vicente and the internal conflict he faced in his life.

For me, The Singing Silence by Eva Lis Wuorio is the short story that makes the biggest personal impression for me. Our brains are always subconsciously making connections to what is being told in a story, but some connections are stronger than others. I believe that people have a greater enjoyment of a book or story when they feel like they can relate to a character or topic. One of the reasons I love reading is that you get to acquaint yourself in different characters lives and the conflicts that they face. I have read nine short stories over the past two weeks and immersed myself into all of the different adventures. There you have it, I managed to experience nine lives in ten days.

The singing silence by eva lis wuorio