Failure and Imagination

Part 1
1. When J.K. Rowling begins her speech, her tone is one of amusement and wit, as she cracks jokes to get the audience comfortable with her speaking in front of them. Directly after that, she shifts into a more serious tone when she begins to speak about failure. This is important because she is trying to ease the audience into the real meat of the speech.

When Rowling speaks about both her parents and her own fears for her coming true, her tone is one of regret, or so it seems to me. She seems disheartened by the past and even says something prior about it being uncomfortable for her to look back on her past self. Directly after that she switched to a more lighthearted tone in which she speaks about failure being beneficial. This is to make her audience see that failure does not only carry negative connotations, and that good things can come from it even if it occurs on a grand scale.

When she is speaking about people having the power to imagine better, she is very direct about it and her tone is one of seriousness, once again. She's very good at being serious. After that, her tone becomes more personal, reflecting back on what she had at 21 and what she wishes for everyone in the audience. This eases them out of the seriousness of it all, and lets them see her as more than this prestigious person; instead they see her as just another person, with whom they have things in common.

2. Quixotic - exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.
    Caprice - a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.
    Apathy - lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

Part 2 
2. My life is changing others' in many ways, though it has taken me a very long time to understand that this is true. Although I believe myself to be an unnecessary addition to the world and that I am simply existing, it is the fact that I do exist that is changing the lives of people around me. By existing, I am a symbol of hope to others like me and others who have been through things similar to what I have been through. I am still here, and that should give them hope to continue on, too. By sharing my stories or opening up to people, I am changing their lives.

Inwardly I have achieved a lot this school year alone. I've gone from feeling like I am nothing that I do not matter the slightest bit, to feeling like I can make a difference and I can change people. Inwardly, I have become more positive, though it doesn't always show on the outside. My inward achievements are going to influence others to be more positive as well, and to come to terms with themselves because it makes a world of difference.

As I continue to grow and age, I want to continue touching people in a positive way. I want to share my stories of my trials and hardships and I want people to see that there is hope. I want them to see that I've survived thus far, so they can keep going, too. I want my life to make others see that positivity is one of the best things to have in life, and that coming to terms with who you are and what you want, and not settling for what others want for you, is the best decision you can make for yourself. I basically want to show people that it gets better.