My hero

A hero: "a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities." Everyone has someone that they admire, look up to, and strive to be like. Everyone has someone who has helped shape them to be the person they are. For me, this person is my dad. Since day one I have been a daddy's girl. I believe there is no greater bond than a father-daughter bond and I am beyond thankful to have such a strong one.
Every day he has encouraged me to keep going and to never quit, like he has done. My dad has shown me how to live a successful and positive life. He is the most dedicated, hard-working, and determined man I have ever met. He has worked hard since a young age, attending Stanford University and then Harvard for business school. He has started his own business and succeeded. He works hard at his job and for his family. He has been determined to provide support for his kids and himself and he has never failed. He is the most self-less man. He is always looking out for everyone around him and is constantly picking me up when I am down. I am extremely thankful for everything he has done for me and my family.
My dad is constantly explaining to me how stuff works. Over and over. He has taught me how to play sports and how to make it through school. He helps me every single night with my homework. He is my personal tutor. These past few months my dad has been my college counselor. He has helped me lay out what schools I want to apply to, peer-edited all my essays, and paid for every application. I am one lucky girl. He tells me I have what it takes; he's the only one who can do that. I will never be able to repay my dad for everything he has provided and done for me. Every time I reflect on one of my life's accomplishments, I can't help but realize that I achieved it because of something my dad has  taught me.
My dad will forever and always be my hero.

Existence Precedes Essence

TIME, PATTERN and SPACE; three words I have found key to understanding Mersault’s life. He is living in a TIME of disorientation. Throughout the few days of his mom’s passing and funeral, he didn’t have much TIME to sleep. The days were not distinguished, yet an overlap of TIME. With TIME comes this reference to light. He sees visions, except nothing behind them. Marie Cardona, a girl who he found at the beach and happened to have a thing for, brings out his materialism. He is attracted to her physical appearance and brings her home. Then the next morning he wakes up and makes himself eggs out of a pan, like it’s just another normal day; a PATTERN. He lives in this idea of being used to things, doing things for the sake of doing them, not thinking why or how he is doing them. As an existentialist, he is more interested in living than in knowing. He lives in a big two bedroom apartment, but has all of his stuff piled into his room… wasted SPACE. Why does he do that? It seems a bit crazy to me. He states that he doesn’t like Sundays, yet he wastes a day doing absolutely nothing but staring out of a window for hours. We get a description of everything that happens, yet none have any meaning or lasting connection, just him simply going through the PATTERN of his day. Mersault is living the aesthetic. He is existing, but he is not living. All we know about him is that he is an incredibly perceptive person, but nothing else. He is unable to see the big picture of his life and only chooses to focus on the small things. I haven’t found Mersault making any choice that would give his existence essence. His existence lives in a continuous PATTERN of eating, sleeping, working and observing and is unaware of essence. His existence starts to be determined more as an essence when he shoots the Arab, which is definitely not a good way to determine your essence. Once he is put in prison, he is able to reflect on his life as he tries to help pass the TIME. He begins to become aware of himself and his actions, finding his essence. He begins to remember pieces of his life as he becomes aware of this PATTERN he is living in, as prison provides him with another one to live in. To find your essence, you must find yourself by becoming aware of your thoughts, actions and emotions. Here, Mersault does so.