PROMPT RESPONSE

A Charitable General Paper

Devaluing happiness, friendship, and film

‘General Paper’

What does that mean? It’s a school subject? You discuss paper for a semester? I’m perplexed.

My American education from last century has no concept of this. I’m baffled. As near as I can figure, the closest experience I can relate to is writing essays for college admissions.

As this is a school-age topic, not of happiness, charity, social media and film, but of general paper essays, I’ll revert to school, but dive further back than college.

1980. Grade 7. Age 12.

Day 1: Wood shop class Mr. Gaudio’s question, “What is pride?”

I was perplexed then, too. I think we all were. I was expecting to be given some wood and some sandpaper. The only piece of wood we got was №2 pencils. The only paper, blank sheets of 8 1/2 x 11.

“What is pride?”

Looking around the room, I could read the same thought in every other kid’s blank stare, ‘What the hell?’ (I didn’t start using ‘wtf’ until two years later).

Can’t we just run the pencils through the planer and then use the drop saw?

Pride: noun; a feeling of deep satisfaction from one’s own achievements or the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated. — Oxford Languages

Laughing and scrambling out of wood shop class where we’d just scribbled essays and rolled our eyes at the thought of the semester ahead with Mr. Gaudio, us friends (some from grades 1 through 6, some from 7:50 a.m. home room) talked about what classes we had next and tried to figure out which way to go, trying to remember our locker number and combination.

Our new social networks were forming. I even gave a new kid the pencil that had walked out of Mr. Gaudio’s class with me.

Finding my next class, the rush of happiness came with seeing the film projector set up at the back of the room. A full reel too; 55 minutes of lazy nothingness.

After my 7th grade nap, I rubbed my bleary eyes and returned to typing in 2021…

General Paper subject

In his general paper prompt, Wei Xiang asked these questions:

To what extent has social media devalued true friendship in your society?

The world is now a much smaller place. We can communicate with anyone, anywhere, at any time. We can maintain long-distance relationships, share moments via video and show the world what we’ve just made for dinner.

But our close friendships, our local inner circle, have become more distant. Phubbing has replaced communicating.

Our friends influence us; but now we are bombarded by influencers who want to be our ‘friend’.

To what extent is charitable giving desirable?

Helping someone back on their feet or in a time of need is a stride forward. Continuing to help someone already on their feet is a crutch. I helped my new friend by giving him my pencil. Would doing that every day of the school year be helping anyone? Where would I get 190 pencils?

Films are concerned with escaping from the problems of everyday life rather than addressing them. Discuss.

The movie industry is built on keeping people in the dark. ‘Sit down and shut up.’ ‘Let us entertain you.’

Everyone enjoys an escape from the day to day struggles now and then. People want that break, a window of time where they can forget their own daily struggle and step into another world, someone else’s life.

How far is the pursuit of happiness the most important human goal?

The pursuit of pure happiness is selfish and a false mirage, an imaginary oasis in the mind. Happiness is but one emotional state of mind. One of many we need to experience to maintain perspective and live a fulfilled life.

Perhaps it is pride that we should strive for in our lives, a deep feeling of contentment and satisfaction.

Pride: noun; a feeling of deep satisfaction from one’s own achievements or the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated. — Oxford Languages

When on my deathbed, if I can smile with a feeling of deep satisfaction… that will be true happiness.

Forty-one years later, maybe I did learn something from you, Mr. Gaudio. Thank you. And thanks to Wei Xiang for the prompt.

Thanks for reading.

Here’s a brilliant and entertaining response to @wei xiang’s prompt by someone who actually knows and has experienced the subject of ‘General Paper’, yesnodunno.

I’d love to read other friend’s take on this one.

Penelope Mayfield, Pierce McIntyre, Mary DeVries, Jupiter Grant, Dave Logan, Rodney Brazier, Australian Alien, Sadie Seroxcat, kasey sparks, Kyomi O'Connor, Penny Grubb, Susan Alison, Giedre P., Melanie J., Squeeze the Avocado, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), Alice Cunningham, Raine Lore, Amanda Wilson, Carlos Garbiras, Christopher Robin, Charlie Tango

Download my new Free book, ‘Limericky Pulp and Other Poems’, at Ko-fi. All my limericks and poems in one easy read!