Following My Power of Language Just a short time ago I had my first experience with the power of language. I was in the eleventh grade and I was a student in Mr. Rhinehart’s English class. To provide a little background, Mr. Rhinehart, is a “deadhead.” One of the many influences of the American people was the Greatful Dead. In a stereotypical society, followers were labeled “deadheads.” He is very in touch with who he is and likes to help his students identify themselves. Mr. Rhinehart would introduce me to the world of transcendentalism. I love just hearing the word, but at the time I was confused on the meaning. When I first saw the syllabus for this section I was devastated. Like all good students, I went home and read the first assignment. It was a piece by Ralph Waldo Emerson. I opened the book and started to read what I now call, my invitation to the depths of my soul. I was captivated by every word. I started to really think about life and what its worth. I found myself questioning who I was and how I evolved. It is beautiful writing that tells us about what the meaning of life should be. I was amazed how one man was so brilliant. Just by that statement alone I wasn’t learning what I was suppose to. The point of Emerson is to realize that everyone is brilliant and that we need to find the brilliance within ourselves. Each individual needs to realize that book knowledge is not as important as life experience. I found that there was nothing I could learn from this man that I didn’t already have within myself. The one thing I have yet to learn is how to pull it out. Everyday, through outside influences, I get the strength and courage to be a little more brilliant. “In the woods, is perpetual youth. Within these plantations of God, a decorum and sanctity reign, a perennial festival is dressed, and the guest sees not how he should tire of them in a thousand years. ...
