Have you ever had
a certain ability, talent, or hobby that’s either rare or completely unique to
you? A rock collection, maybe one rock from each state you’ve been to? What
about being able to name all the countries of the world? Have you ever been able
to draw so well that you can make an exact replica of The Mona Lisa? For me, it’s
none of those. It’s not a kind of hobby or even something that I’m really good
at. For me, it’s simply being left-handed.
I liked baseball,
and I liked practices. After one particular practice, my coach asked me how I
held my glove and bat. I told him that I held my glove in my left hand and the
bat on my right side. I asked why he had asked, and he answered that usually,
when the bat was on one's right side, they were usually right handed, and held
the glove in their right hand, and the same vice versa. I thought about this on
the way home, and as I drank water from my bottle, I noticed that I held it
with my right hand, even though my dominant hand is left. I started to notice
that maybe I was not solely a left-handed person.
I was always more
passionate about tennis than I was baseball. Tennis was also something that
helped me become more aware of both my hands. As lessons progressed, I was
taught to serve and hit the ball, but every lesson I couldn’t help but remember
baseball and how I held the bat one way and the glove another. And after that
day, the first thing I thought of when I held things was, What hand is it
in? Are other people holding it in the same hand? It also helped me to get
a small advantage when it came to playing opponents. Now that I always thought
to myself what hand they used, I was able to hit the ball in a way where they
would have to use their non-dominant hand, which gave me a slight advantage.
I started to think
about all of the things that I hold. Swords, rackets, bats, utensils, and soon
I came to realize that maybe I’m not somebody who can just use my left hand.
And now that I’m aware of this, I’m more aware of myself. What hand do you use?
Your left hand? Your right hand? Maybe a mix of both? Start to notice this, and
you’ll find there’s a lot more to you than you’ve ever known before.
-Paarth
I think that the central idea is very relatable, many people don't pay attention to the small things in life. I enjoyed your first person narration style. The constant asking of questions was good too, it kept me engaged throughout, and I now leave asking myself these questions. The last sentence really makes readers think,"Start to notice this, and you’ll find there’s a lot more to you than you’ve ever known before.". Great essay!
ReplyDeleteI think the central idea of this essay is really interesting. The fact that something as small as a dominant hand can have a great impact on what you pay attention to. "Now that I always thought to myself what hand they used, I was able to hit the ball in a way where they would have to use their non-dominant hand, which gave me a slight advantage."This is quote is very important as many people don't focus or pay attention to the small detailed things that life provides. I also like how your story example is put in chronological order. It helps me understand how you began to realise your talent.
ReplyDeleteI think the central idea is differentness. this shows it "Have you ever had a certain ability, talent, or hobby that’s either rare or completely unique to you?". I thought it was cool that he tied in his own life into it.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely something I have thought about. I find that whenever I notice a little thing like what hand I use I can never stop thinking about it. Noticing the little things in life is something that people should do more of. I really liked how engaging this was, and because of the conclusion it really stays with you. The last sentence is definitely ties into that central idea, "Start to notice this, and you’ll find there’s a lot more to you than you’ve ever known before." I also really like how much voice you put into it.
ReplyDeleteI liked how at the start you were listing of some talents or hobbies when you said "For me, it’s none of those. It’s not a kind of hobby or even something that I’m really good at. For me, it’s simply being left-handed." I liked how you said that and went on to explain you are almost ambidextrous. I think being left handed is almost a talent within a talent because in today's world it is clearly right handed favored. Some people may not even know there left handed until first or second grade because people can get taught to do something with their right hand because it is the favored in society.
ReplyDeleteI think the main theme of this writing piece is using your talents or traits that might come off as insignificant at first to your advantage. I believe this is the central idea because when reading this I couldn't help but notice that while you are able to use both of your hands, you are also extremely observational in order to even realize you could use that to your advantage against your opponents in tennis. One sentence that backs up the central idea is, "What hand do you use? Your left hand? Your right hand? Maybe a mix of both? Start to notice this, and you’ll find there’s a lot more to you than you’ve ever known before." One thing that I liked about this piece was the powerful thinking that you displayed in your conclusion, and the way you left your readers thinking about unique things they might be able to do.
ReplyDeleteI think the main idea of this story is about discovering new things, i'm sure everyone can relate to that feeling when you discover something new about someone or yourself; that feeling of "ohhh, that's what it was" is super relatable. I also loved how you described all the things that helped you find out you were ambidextrous (dominant with both hands). "What hand is it in? Are other people holding it in the same hand?" this line shows you questioning what you see other people do, and applying it to yourself. It ties back to that feeling when you find out something that's been off, but you can't put your finger on it.
ReplyDeleteI think the lesson is, is that even minor things can have a huge impact I got this from reading "It also helped me to get a small advantage when it came to playing opponents. Now that I always thought to myself what hand they used, I was able to hit the ball in a way where they would have to use their non-dominant hand, which gave me a slight advantage." I also like that you showed multiple examples on how you weren't solely a left handed person.
ReplyDeleteI think that the main idea is how everyone is different. Like how you were saying about how you hold things in your hands, everybody might do something similar to how you do it but also unique in their own way too. I liked how you said that you had an advantage to noticing the small details. In the story you said, "I started to think about all of the things that I hold. Swords, rackets, bats, utensils, and soon I came to realize that maybe I’m not somebody who can just use my left hand. And now that I’m aware of this, I’m more aware of myself. What hand do you use? Your left hand? Your right hand? Maybe a mix of both? Start to notice this, and you’ll find there’s a lot more to you than you’ve ever known before." This relates to the small details about people that other people can start to notice. Overall good job!!
ReplyDeleteI think that the main idea was finding little things about yourself that you didn't know before. It showed when you said "Start to notice this, and you’ll find there’s a lot more to you than you’ve ever known before." I really liked how you gave detail about the sports with their difficulties while using your left hand. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI like how engaging your writing is. The first sentence, "Have you ever had a certain ability, talent, or hobby that’s either rare or completely unique to you?", really draws readers in because it gets them thinking and feeling more connected to the story. I also like the ending, "Start to notice this, and you’ll find there’s a lot more to you than you’ve ever known before." I think it can be applied to a lot of different things, so this story can be really helpful for people who don't play baseball, as well as those who do. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI have a special talent and it is that I can roll stomach, and I have never seen anyone else do it before. I like how you added lots of detail about your experience and ways you used it to help you out like when you said ¨I was able to hit the ball in a way where they would have to use there non-dominant hand¨
ReplyDelete"Now that I always thought to myself what hand they used, I was able to hit the ball in a way where they would have to use their non-dominant hand, which gave me a slight advantage." I like how you said that plus when you realized that you could use your other hand could help you win.I also like your organization of this story. I like this story.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting how well you made small differences have a big impact on stuff! I really like where you said "For me, it’s simply being left-handed" because it's a very simple thing to have! I am a lefty as well, and I throw right handed.
ReplyDeleteI'm left handed too, except my right barely useable.I liked how you ended with "What hand do you use? Your left hand? Your right hand? Maybe a mix of both?" It really made me think about how much we use our dominant hand compared to the other.
ReplyDelete"I’m not somebody who can just use my left hand. And now that I’m aware of this, I’m more aware of myself." I think the central idea is that usually people tend to gloss over little differences like if your dominant hand is your left or right, but if you look more into it you'll appreciate the little things about yourself more than you ever thought you could before. I also noticed you did a good job of using mature vocabulary that without it wouldn't have sounded nearly as good.
ReplyDeleteI think this situation is relatable. "I find myself eating snack with my left hand and I never even think about that." I liked how your beginning is very engaging
ReplyDeleteOne of the central ideas is to pay attention to the small things in life. "When the bat was on one's right side, they were usually right handed, and held the glove in their right hand, and the same vice versa. This is when you realize that you might not just be left-handed. I also liked how you made me think you were really good in art, or if you had a rock collection. But I wasn't expecting you to be left-handed.
ReplyDeleteI like how started talking about peoples hobbies. I also like how you engage the reader. I eat my food with my left hand and when I am jumping I reach with my left hand but do everything else with my right. I think this was a good story and I like how you left me wanting to read more.
ReplyDeleteWow, I never really noticed this before. My mom is left handed and when she eats, she uses her left hand but when she cuts she uses her right. It is vice versa for everyone else at my house. I like how you describe your thought process after your baseball practice. "I thought about this on the way home, and as I drank water from my bottle, I noticed that I held it with my right hand, even though my dominant hand is left. I started to notice that maybe I was not solely a left-handed person."
ReplyDeleteI am right handed and I like at the end you asked if we were left or right or if we are both. I also like how you said that you paid attention to the other opponents and what hand they used so you could heat it so the can not get to it.
ReplyDeleteI am not left handed but I can relate to using your non dominant
ReplyDeletehand to do specific things. I play on my computer left handed despite being right side dominant. I like how you focused on something that most people would not normally notice for your topic.". I thought about this on the way home, and as I drank water from my bottle, I noticed that I held it with my right hand, even though my dominant hand is left. I started to notice that maybe I was not solely a left-handed person".
i am a left handed person the rest of my family is right handed except my dad. i don´t understand how people use their right hand and right hand people don´t understand how people use their left hand.
ReplyDeleteI'm a right handed person, but I sometimes use my left hand well rarely. I only use my left hand to type on a keyboard all of the time. I think the central idea is that there's some moment's that your right or left hand are very useful."Now that I always thought to myself what hand they used, I was able to hit the ball in a way where they would have to use their non-dominant hand, which gave me a slight advantage." Very good writing please now you make me wanna use my left hand more often thanks!
ReplyDeleteI think the central idea of this story was that you have two hands for a reason, regards to the different things you may use them for. For example you could write with your right hand but then bat with your left. Kind of like how you explained it. But opposite. I liked it when you said "I was able to hit the ball in a way where they would have to use their non-dominant hand, which gave me a slight advantage." because it proves that you could take something from yourself, that's maybe different from others and see how you can benefit from it.
ReplyDelete