Sometimes, when we have reached the 'acme of perfection' , we have also actually placed a burden on our shoulder. Seems comfortable to be among the stars but it comes with a price ; pressure . The pressure builds up when you fail to also understand the cycle of life; the ups and downs. Life is not always beds of roses.That is the reason why we sometimes need to experience failure, to actually teach us to come to terms with what life is really all about. With this comes inner strength. Not just that, we become wiser.
As in the case of Perry, I think what he needs is the normal life of a teenager. Not just about getting straight A's, satisfying the parents and some of his own needs (himself). He needs to know that life is not just about doing well in academic, but it also comes with challenges in real life situations. Unfortunately, he knew nothing of the real world demands.
However, Perry was mistakenly put in the mess by his parents. They thought that what they were doing were efforts to nurture and support him. He did not need to do anything in the house except to study. What his parents failed to see was depriving him of his own household chores had actually made him become useful for academic purposes only. He was like a walking puppet with no life meanings. His world was condemned only to become nothing more than an object of pride to his parents. He knew that he could do much more but he could never think of backing off. How could you when your parents had gone to some great extent to make sure everything would go well? So,what's left in him? Nothing but a bitter soul and pure anger.
(12 April 2012)
(p.s In response to a text written by Joseph Allen and Claudia Worrell Allen on 'Escaping The Endless Adolescence ' 2009). Discussed in all five classes.
