Kambili's Transformation In Things Fall Apart By P. E.

Confidence is something that everyone needs. If a child does not have the confidence to play a sport the answer is not to force the child to keep playing. That crushes a kid’s happiness especially if they are not having fun. “At some point kids have to want to play sports because THEY love to play, not just because you want them to play”(You) Children shouldn’t feel uncomfortable or pressured to participate in athletic events. If they do their more than likely not going to enjoy what they are doing.

In “Children Need to Play, Not Compete,” Jessica Statsky argues that younger children should not be involved in overly competitive sports. Statsky wrote that organized competitive sports were to the disadvantage of children both physically and psychologically. In youth athletics, some parents and coaches put their own dreams in front of their children 's’ well-being by stressing winning. Statsky concludes “all organized sports activities” to be remade as a more enjoyable game regardless of each athlete’s ability and athleticism. The author states many issues that kids have when they are forced to play a sport just to win or that they don’t enjoy. Some kids just don 't enjoy sports, but their parents force it on them. Certain organized sports programs promote winning over physical skills and self-esteem. Statsky brings up valid points that early childhood shouldn’t involve intense physical competition, which is associated with the risk of injury to the body and mind.

Luckily, I had a group of girls who I could always rely on to cheer me up and to give me advice. The older girls would share their high school experiences with me and would answer any questions I had, and as I grew older, I unknowingly obtained a leadership position as I was the one others looked up to. I may not have a brother that I could see all the time, but I gained a whole team of sisters who were always there for me. I owe it to my teammates for allowing me to open up and discover who I really am. The first week of practice, when I was known around the gym for being the new girl or shy girl, my coach told me something that I’ll never forget: “We’re all crazy here, and it’s ok because being normal is boring.” Gymnastics is a sanctuary to me; I am everything I am today because gymnastics gave me the courage to voice my personality and my opinions. My practices allow me to relax, to relieve myself of the stresses that have built up during the day, and to be someone that I am truly proud of. It also has impacted my academics and social life at

This change and maturity in Kambili is later shown when she starts to defy papa. This is shown when she steals the picture of papa Nnukwu and keeps it in her room and when she describes Papa as a “tall stranger”! However Kambili still remains loyal to her father and obeys him still, she does not go to the extent and rebel totally against him, unlike Jaja. This also shows that she isn’t mature enough and therefore obeys her father and Jaja to an extent.

In “Children Need to Play, Not Compete”, Jessica Statsky talks about the different kinds of students and their approach and mental and physical ability and pressure towards Sports. Statsky differentiates between two sets of children who have physical and mental attributes and towards sports. She gives a few examples and changes that have taken place in the past decades in the sports scenario. When overzealous parents and coaches impose adult standards on children's sports, the result can be activities that are neither satisfying nor beneficial to children. She further states that children should not be pressurized or forced upon their performance and improvement rather they should first be given a chance to understand the sport, their potential and the way in which they develop

Kamara originated from Sierra Leone and lived in small villages until the age of 12. She heard talk of rebels coming to her villages and she and her family prepared for it every time until the day her grandmothers superstitions came true. “Whenever you dream of palm oil’, my grandmother had told me when I was seven, ‘blood will spill by the end of the day” (Kamara 25). Her first night in Manarma she dreamt of palm oil, and the next morning her life was changed forever. Ambushed by the rebels and nowhere to go, she was forced to watch villagers burned alive inside a house. After the rebels let her go, she travelled around until she found help from a man who pointed her in the direction of women who would help her to a clinic in Port Loko. Upon reaching the village, she was treated as if she was a threat, and after clearing up the misunderstanding, was told why. The rebels had been sending young girls under the guise of needing help, into villages, and once their guards were done, the rebels would attack. Teens were to be wary of in the villages. Once she reached the hospital and

Kambili, the narrator of the story, symbolizes the bridge that connects Aunty Ifeoma and Mama. The one similarity that the two maternal figures hold is how they have affected Kambili even with their unalike personas. In the beginning of the novel and Kambili’s journey, she represents Mama and her restrictive house as she is also

Father Amadi teaches Kambili to smile. He teaches her that it’s okay to be happy and to express it. He helps break her silence which contributes to her moving away form her father. He helps her through a lot and helps her understand her thoughts and feelings. He also shows her a different side to her religion. A side not only based on the rules but a side based on love and

“See you a practice!” is a phrase that most people will say to their friends throughout childhood. Thirty-six million children in the United States play a sport. That is over half the children in the United States. However, even with that statistic, some children are still inside all day watching television or playing video games. Many parents do not enroll their children in a sport because they believe it will result in injury, or the child is going to feel left out. Some even believe that their child will be looked down upon if they are not as good as everyone else. They believe that if the child has more time on schoolwork it will raise their grades. But most children love to play outside and learn new sports. It is a part of a child’s nature to run around and have fun. Only some parents realize that children who play a sport can have more discipline than those who don’t. Sports can also give children experience working with others as a team as well as confidence in themselves. Children and teens who play sports are more likely to have higher confidence, be more disciplined, and work better with others.

That’s why she decided to play tee ball when she was just a little thing. After her two years of playing she was bumped up to softball, the ball was bigger and she hit off of a pitching machine. She fell in love with the game since tee ball. She made All-stars almost every year, which made her work harder year after year. As time moved on she saw injuries happen to her teammates and opponents, she immediately wanted to run out there like a mother would and help them feel better. Malori moved up to twelve and under instead of ten and under due to lack of participation. She was scared for her life, she had to hit off of a pitcher’s pitch. She was nine playing against twelve year old's pitching most of the time. This never stopped her from playing the game she loved, and she continued to play her best. However, she got hit most of the time whether it was in the ankle, thigh, or back it did not matter, it hurt Malori’s little body. Malori then saw her cousin Monica play another sport called volleyball and decided to give it a

Throughout the book, Mariatu goes through many emotional times. In the beginning, she is a customary young Sierra Leone girl enthusiastically living her life, but as life goes on she encounters many difficult situations sometimes she would wish she was dead, but she manages to stay positive and keep fighting. At the age of 11 Mariatu Kamara is a jubilant little girl who loves to sing, dance and play games with her friends, life was good for Mariatu, but soon that all changed when there were rumours of the rebel attack. At first, no one thought much of it, until one day when Mariatu was sent on a task with some of her cousins she was captured by the rebels, they tied her up and made her witness some of her family members assassinated. Mariatu

so Amaka’s makes a comment making fun of her. Kambili’s change is clearly displayed when she responds saying, “I don’t know how to do the orah leaves, but you can show me. ”(170). This is Kambili first time defending against Amaka’s rude comment. Amaka’s critiques and comments helps Kambili finally speak up causing a huge moment, for this makes it easier for Kambili to hold

She learns from watching Papa Nnukwu doing his morning prayer (p. 167 – 169) that his traditionalism is a very spiritual thing for him and something that made him happy; happiness her family doesn’t feel after saying their prayers. This is a breakthrough for her as she makes the conclusion for herself and understands herself that there is an important something in Papa Nnukwu regarding his beliefs that is missing in their own lives which revolves around their religion. She also understands her grandfather better and sees and experiences that her father is wrong. This matures Kambili greatly and contributes to her independence of her father.

While visiting Nsukka for the first time, her cousin and aunts outspokenness cause her to be aware of her insecurity. Kambili's cousin, Amaka, is very outgoing and open, she “asked many questions and did not accept many answers” (71), her ideas are always spoken out and she made sure her opinions were known. While speaking her mother, Amaka describes Kambili's behavior as,”funny...strange” (142), when Kambili overhears, she becomes overwhelmed and stressed due to her

There are many repercussions that are projected upon both men and women when they enter into a sport that typically isn’t thought of as gender appropriate. Some of those cultural and social stigmatisms may be abandonment by your peers, and friends questions regarding your sexuality, and even in some cases criticism as to how you are living your life. In some cases, it may lead to you not being accepted by either group, theone whose norems you are not following, of as well as the one with whom you are trying to get involved. This paper will address all of these issues and how these seemingly negative situations can, will, and are, leading to growth. It will also discuss how this is a situation where repercussions are