The American Experience as a Journey
"It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters, in the end." --Ernest Hemingway
Even in the face of practically ensured failure, our American Heroes, those who undertake the American Experience, continue to chase their ideals and continue to believe in a better future. That is the true essence of the Experience: not reaching the ideal, but understanding the journey that brought you there and that there is far more ahead of you to experience, that the journey should not have an ending, and that everything you experience is the most important part.
Each entry contains multiple artifacts that fit together to prove the "focus on the journey" mini-thesis.
- Intro: the Reward: A paragraph based on a quote by Steve Jobs about the Journey that functions as a brief introduction to the third and final theme.
- A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY: AN ANALYSIS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF "THE JOURNEY" AND HOW EVERY PIECE OF THE PUZZLE MUST FIT TOGETHER—EVERYTHING YOU EXPERIENCE HAS IMPORTANCE, AND YOU MUST UNDERGO THE ENTIRE JOURNEY IN ORDER TO FULLY EXPERIENCE IT.
- "Endings": A short statement written from the point of view of Holden Caulfield explaining in his unique style that the journey is the most important part, and how only the journeyer will be able to understand their journey's conclusion.
- "Gatsby's Green Light": An original poem written about The Great Gatsby, concerning idealism, past vs. present, and the consequence of obstructing the view of the journey with focusing on the goal.
- "The Inexhaustible Variety of Life": Analysis of a short statement that encompasses the journey theme in a way that leads into the conclusion.
- "Good Idea, Bad Idea": A brief comment on a short comic relating to continuing on the journey, and what this will mean for each individual.
Each entry contains multiple artifacts that fit together to prove the "focus on the journey" mini-thesis.