Maya Angelou

1. In Maya Angelou's first autobiography she said that the caged bird sings for freedom. He doesn't sing because he's happy or pleased; he yearns to be free. I agree with this, because no one wants to be held back or restricted in any way.

3. Angelou has said that she doesn't like talking about her bad dreams because it "gives them too much power." I think that this statement can be true. When you talk about the negative and are giving it all of your attention, that’s all you begin to think about.

4. Like Angelou, I too believe that dreams "tell the truth" about us. Our dreams are formed using our subconscious thoughts, right? So, it only makes sense that it would represent who we are. It may also show parts of who we are that we didn’t even realize we were. I have had a dram before that took me by surprise, but I came to find out that it was true to me.

5. After going through tragedy as a child, Angelou didn’t talk for almost five years. I couldn’t imagine living like that, although I can understand why she did. It would be very hard to deal with what she went through at such a young age. I would probably cope with it differently though.  I talk a lot around those I’m comfortable with, and I think that if I was a little quieter and paid more attention to those around me, I would learn a lot from other people. I’m sure Maya learned many things during the time of her silence just from listening and observing.

6. I find speaking more than one language very impressive. I wish I had put more time and effort into trying to learn one. I would like to be fluent in Spanish eventually. My mom spent a few years of her life as a child living in Mexico, so she is fluent in Spanish. It’s amazing to see just how often that skill comes in handy.

10. I agree with Angelou when Angelou quote Nathaniel West saying, “Easy reading is damned hard writing” and writing is “just hard work, you know?” For me, writing is very difficult. I struggle with putting my thoughts in writing that others can read and easily understand.

11. I disagree with the statement that “One can’t really learn after one is twenty-five.” Yes, it may be more difficult to retain new information at that age, but it certainly isn’t impossible. I have known many people well beyond the age of twenty-five to pick up new skills and learn new things.