The four characters represent how we respond to change. When it comes to change, who are you in the story?
I can relate to Haw’s journey in many ways. At first, I used to deny change and perceive it as an absolutely negative notion. I always hoped that whatever was happening would not affect me. I wanted to remain in my comfort zone and refused to accept the necessity of change. My fear of the unknown often prevented me from doing things differently both in my personal life and as a student. I stubbornly continued to behave in the same way despite the changed circumstances. However, as I learned more about the nature of change, I realized that sticking to long-established beliefs is not effective. As Haw, who gradually became aware that “he had been held captive by his own fear,” I had to overcome my fears and stereotypes (Johnson 17). At first, it was challenging to accept the idea that things can and should be done differently, and that, in fact, I would gain much more from being adaptable and flexible than from remaining in my comfort zone. I think that I am still undergoing transformation in my mentality and have not reached the state of mind and spirit of Haw. Still, I can identify mistakes of the past, and I hope to turn them into the valuable lessons for the future. I realize that change is inevitable and that “old cheese” will always convert into “new cheese.” I take the responsibility for making the decision to let go of the old one and begin the exciting journey to the new one.
“Cheese” is a symbol for whatever is important to you – the way you do your job, relationships with other people, health, peace of mind, etc. The maze is where you look for “Cheese” – your organization, community or family. What is YOUR “Cheese”, and where are you looking for IT?
Currently, “cheese” in my life refers to my education and well-being. My goal is to become as knowledgeable, skilled, and professional as I can via excelling in my studies. My positive attitude to life is rooted in being good at what I do, and at the moment it is studying. The whole process is very important to my future career and my level of confidence; though, I realize that once that goal is achieved I will have to understand where my “new cheese” lies. Clearly, my institution is the “maze” where this present-day “cheese” can be found. By institution, I mean knowledge, material means of its acquisition, the faculty, and academic environment overall. In terms of personal life, my health is the top priority at the moment. It is a critical aspect of a decent quality of life, and it is and will continue to be essential to locating my “cheese” regardless of the situations I will find myself in. The “maze” where this objective can be achieved is multi-layered and cannot be clearly defined. On the one hand, …