For the past two classes, my ASTU class and I have been reading a graphic narrative called Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi. The graphic narrative centralizes on a girl name Marji. Marji is between the ages of 10 and 14. Throughout the graphic narrative, the character of Marji seems to change, and while I was reading there were a few thoughts that went through my head.

While reading there were many things running through my head. The first thing that went through my head was how much I have changed because of the events that have happened in my life. As a child, growing up during war must be life changing. It probably wasn’t easy for a child who is so innocent to just all of sudden have to grow up and be strong because of war. Although, I know many events in my life have changed me, it is nowhere near the life changing events Marji has been through.

Although, I have never been at war, a certain part of this book really hit close to home. There is a part in the book where Marji has to leave her parents to go to Austria (Satrapi, 118). This part really connects to me because ever since a young age I’ve never had a dad. So, I know the feeling of not having parents around. It was really hard to read this particular part because I know growing up without a father has changed me and although I have not read the second part, I know this part would change Marji’s life as well.

Although, growing up without a parent was hard, I know it has made me a stronger person today, and I know it has changed my life. What Marji and I have in common is that the events that happened in our life have shaped us into the people we are today. I now believe that everything happens for a reason, the good and the bad, it is all meant to shape me into the person i’m meant to be and make me stronger for the events that are in store for me.

Throughout my whole life, I’ve always known I was influenced by my family, but I have never really realized how much I was influenced by them. As I was reading Farhat Shahzad’s article, ” The Role of Interpretative Communities in Remembering and Learning “, many thoughts occurred to me. One thought that occurred was the ability to really shape the thought of a person, and how powerful a family’s influence really is. I’d like to think that throughout my whole life I’ve been making decisions based on my thoughts and opinions, but is that truly the case? Have I just been making decisions based on what my family’s thoughts and feelings were towards a certain subject? Is there a difference between the two?

As I thought about the influence of my family more and more, I couldn’t help to think that I actually do not believe in some of the values my family believes in. Ever since I was young, I’ve always heard the opinion of my family on things such as; the LGBTQ community and abortion. It has always been drilled in my head that I should do this, I should do that, this is right, and that is wrong. But, i’ve never really questioned why “this” is right, and “that” was wrong, I’ve always just went with it. In her article, Shahzad states ” Family appears to be the strongest, most cohesive, and most viable social group and has a great impact on the process of remembering and learning ” (Shahzad, 313).  This goes back to my thought on how powerful families can actually be. As family is the “strongest” and ” has a great impact” there is no denying why we are influenced by our family.

As of right now, I’m still debating whether my thoughts on certain subjects and my family’s thoughts on the same subjects are the same. I’ve been influenced by them for nearly two decades, so it’s hard to say that their thoughts aren’t mine. It’s also hard to say that the decisions I’ve made are souly based on my thoughts and values, because they’re not, most of my thoughts and values are my family’s because they are who influenced me. That brings me back to my question, have I just been making decisions based on what my family’s thoughts and feelings were towards a certain subject or have a pushed passed my family’s influence and made decisions based on my thoughts?

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