Lessons from Mulan

Whether you are young or old, there is a Disney character just for you. I know that there is a lot of criticism out there of Disney movies, but really they are brilliant at creating these characters that just live in your heart. Like Mushu. He perhaps takes the cake for being one of my favorite Disney characters of all time. If you recall, Mushu is a lizard... I mean dragon ... and looks something like this. 

It's quite coincidential, Mulan taking place in China, me going to China; it's like we're sisters or something. Not really, but here is the parallel. Upon cleaning out a portion of the basement today my dad handed me a folder. Inside this folder was a collection of writing samples that my school had taken from me between the ages of kindergarten and 12th grade. Now, I am a freak when it comes to tracking progress, improvements, and growth so I absolutely loved every minute of peeling through piece after piece. They began as very simple, one sentence writing samples of "I like to go swimming" (guess what grade that was taken from?). They eventually progressed towards more interisting things, one story about a magic hot dog, and a persuasion letter of why "Touched By An Angel" shouldn't be taken off the air (no, really, I should post it some time, it was absolutely hilarious). 

Something happened between 8th and 9th grade. I pulled out my sample from my freshman year of high school and was dumbfounded at what was written in my very own handwriting. Four plain pieces of paper and a splotty blue pen; words of my own emotionally moving me eight years in the future. It was a moving experience for a variety of reasons, one being that I can barely remember who I was in high school. Two, realizing that all that was proposed, all that was discussed throughout the writing, I didn't have the courage to overcome until recently. A dream, put forth eight years ago that has finally come to be. I had written this sample thinking that there would be a change, but in no way was that change immediate. The sample touches on concepts that every teenage girl contemplates and struggles through; shoot, even some twenty-something girls are caught as well. I decided to take the time to share it with the world; my hope is that it has the ability to perhaps speak to you in some way. Isn't that what writing is all about, immersing ourselves in the experiences of others so that we can draw parallels to our own lives?

The task that was set forth is as follows: "Choose a song that best reflects your personality. Show how the song relates to events in your life and/or your hopes for the future. Use specific lines from the song that support what you write about yourself." A reminder, that this is coming from the voice of 9th-grade-Kayla. (all punctuation, wording, and grammar is copied straight from the page)

Reflection (from 2003)

" My life would be an amazing story if I ever gained the energy to write about it. It's so full of ups and downs, just in my short 14 years. What I'm trying to say is it would be impossible for me to find a song that fits my personality exactly because I'm always changing and learning new things. For now, I think the song "Reflection" from the movie Mulan works for me at this point in my life. It's very possible (and likely) that in five years I'll have a different "theme song". My personality could change, my outlook on life could change, and so could my priorities. All of these things factor in with my theme song. An example is when I was younger, my theme song would probably be the "Hokey Pokey" because I was wild, energetic, and didn't have a care in the world. For this step in my life, I believe that "Reflection" is a good song for me.

"Look at me

You may think you see

Who I really am

But you'll never know me"

Oh how these words are so true. It's as though today this world puts a label on you, whether it's true or not. I admit, I'm guilty myself. As much as I try to avoid it, the world wraps itself around me and pushes me into its way of thinking. We're all judged by our outward appearance, and if we 'pass' we'll be accepted in the in-crowd. People may look at me and already label me without getting to know me. They have no idea that maybe we share the same hobbies, like the same bands, or take the same class. That doesn't matter to them. They will only like me if they like my outer appearance.

"Every day

It's as if I play a part."

Who doesn't want to be accepted? So I might as well blend in with the crowd, right? Do the same things, talk the same lingo, buy the same clothes. I cover up to be someone I'm not. Acting is what I do best.

"Now I see

If I wear a mask 

I can fool the world

But I cannot fool my heart"

Wow, they really are appreciating me now. And all I had to do was act like them, talk like them, and look like them? That's not so bad at all! But...if it's not so bad, why do I feel so guilty? Why does my heart beat faster every time they mock, or talk about someone who's not like them? Is it because that one lone person should be me?

"Who is that girl I see

Staring straight back at me?

When will my reflection show

Who I am inside?"

I look in the mirror. Who's that? That girl can't be me. That's someone I don't know. My reflection shows the outer me. Why that part? The inside is so much more interesting and colorful then the black and white outside.

"I am now

In a world where I

Have to hide my heart

And what I believe in"

Things just keep getting out of control. Why must my heart, so full of energy and passion, be hidden? Why am I so afraid to show it off? Because I'm scared? Of what? Rejection, maybe? What if I believe God is real and alive? Why does that have to hide? It shouldn't. Now things are more confusing than ever.

"But somehow

I will show the world 

What's inside my heart

And be loved for who I am."

Something has to change. I have to unveil the truth, and become my own person. My heart no longer wants to hide, I know it doesn't. I can hear it inside me, calling to let it free, to let it soar away. Why won't I? Am I too afraid to let others see my real heart? Or am I afraid I'll lose it forever? Well, how about I let it loose so only a few people see it. Oh, but it longs for eternal freedom, to become a heart like none other. Why am I so ashamed of it? This can't go on much longer. What happens when people get tired of my act? Must I become true and pure? Well, what if they don't like that? What if they never liked my act in the fist place? I'd be living a lie! I must be loved for my heart, not my appearance, intelligence, or popularity.

"Who is that girl I see

Staring straight back at me?

Why is my reflection

Someone I don't know?

Must I pretend that I'm

Someone else for all time?

When will my reflection show

Who I am inside?"

I glance once more into the dreaded mirror, and once again question who's there. I check behind me, to make sure that I'm alone. Me, the mirror, and a stranger. Why is this person so unfamiliar? I mean, she kind of resembles me but... it must be me. I've gotten so good at faking and pretending that I can even fool myself. How long does this go on? Forever? Or is it a person that comes out of me only when I want her to? Once again I long for the inside of me to show.

"There's a heart that must be free to fly

That burns with a need to know the reason why"

My heart yearns to fly again, to be itself. After I free my heart it questions me why I cooped it up for so long. Why I was ashamed. Why, why, why. I have no answers.

"Why must we all conceal

What we think, how we feel?

Must there be a secret me

I'm forced to hide?"

Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we not voice our opinions, but instead keep them quiet? Why must we all be the same instead of being original? Why do I coop up my emotions and thoughts when I could go out there and make a difference? Why do I hide it? Am I forced to, or do I have a choice?

"I won't pretend that I'm

Someone else for all time.

When will my reflection show

Who I am inside?"

I'm finally me at last. Unique, and free as a bird. I'll never take that road again. Who cares what I look like? Not me. It shouldn't matter. It may be awhile before my insides begin reflecting from my outside, but until them I'm gonna be me.

When I read this song, it hit me at home. I know that this song was for me, I'm glad I chose it. By writing this sample, I questioned myself, asking lots of why this...why that? Things for me are going to change; I'm going to be me."