Belonging- the Simple Gift

Holiday homework belonging essay
In the beginning of the book The Simple Gift by Steven Herrick, Billy’s sense of belonging was limited by his dad, his school and everyone around him. This is shown by the way his dad never accepted him and always treated him badly. He always felt like he didn’t belong in his town as everyone was different to him, he didn’t like his teachers at his school or anyone else in it, the only place he felt like he belonged was the quiet, secluded area, known as Westfield Creek, where he would go to read books. That place enriched belonging as he felt like he had a place where he could be himself and read in peace but when billy couldn’t handle living in that town anymore because of his lack of belonging he left his home to find his place. This was the same as the beginning of The Blind Side; the main character Michael had nowhere to live, he never had his place in the world he always felt like he didn’t fit in with anyone, even when he got put into a good school. He lived in the school gym which he tried to call home, but it didn’t feel right because every other place he called home, he use to run away from because he never felt his sense of belonging.
Later in the book “The Simple Gift” Billy found a place where he could live. An old carriage, carriage 1864. Living here is where he met a homeless person called Old Bill. Old Bill had no where he belonged either just like billy, he rejected everyone who tried to get close to him but despite Old Bill’s rejection Billy kept pushing to be Old Bill’s friend. This relationship had a positive effect on them both as they soon grew happier and helped each other in different ways. Billy and Old Bill soon meet a girl called Catlin who doesn’t really feel like she belongs anywhere either as she comes from a rich family and she always gets what she wants, never what she needs. During the book Catlin meets Old Bill. As they become closer friends, Billy, Catlin and Old Bill form a sense of belonging with each other, which shows the positive impacts they had on each other. Old Bill helps Billy when police want to take him home and Billy unknowingly helps Old Bill find peace with what happened with his daughter and wife. Their friendship enriched their experience of belonging.
A similar thing happened to Michael in The Blind Side. A family took him in after finding him walking alone down a dark road. Michael’s sense of belonging slowly formed with the family, his experience of belonging was enriched by the family and the family as well grew a sense of belonging with the main character Michael. The impact Michael had on the family was a positive impact, and so too did the family have a positive impact on Michael, the central character.
Overall both texts show how the world around you, the people you meet you meet, and how you interact can both limit and enrich ones experience of belonging. To have a sense of belonging you must be in the right environment, have a good group of people around you and be able to accept yourself, if you don’t your sense of belonging will be very limited.